A PETITION calling for a halt to the approval of planning applications for a Penrith industrial site was presented last night to Eden Council.

Presented at yesterday evening's full council meeting, the petition called on the local authority to commit to refusing future planning applications relating to the Omega Proteins industrial site, on Greystoke Road, about one mile west of Penrith town centre.

The petition was created by local resident Jeff Thomson, from the Fresh AIR for Penrith campaign group.

The petition, hosted on the website 38 Degrees, reached a total of 1,153 signatures.

This is more than twice the total number - 500 - required under rule 26 of Eden's Council's procedure rules to trigger a debate on the issue.

Petitioners demanded of the council a commitment to refuse future planning applications relating to the site, on the grounds that the site is the source of "disgusting", "obnoxious" and "sickening" odours.

A recent Environment Agency investigation into reports of odours emanating from the site examined an issue with the site's biofilters.

A spokesman for the Leo Group, which owns and operates Omega Proteins, explained that "work is now underway to rectify this problem" following the receipt of notice from the agency, set to be completed "by the required deadline of October 30.”