YORKSHIRE Water needs to urgently upgrade Beverley's sewage works to prevent nasty niffs, a councillor has warned.
The waste water treatment plant has been blamed for foul odours and residents fear it will not cope with thousands of new homes planned in the town.
Now, ward councillor Dominic Peacock is urging Yorkshire Water to pump-in new investment to upgrade the plant.
Cllr Peacock called in public protection officials last summer to monitor bad odours from the plant near Beverley Beck.
He is warning Yorkshire Water to eliminate the problem before the warm weather returns, creating a worse stink.
Cllr Peacock said: "Yorkshire Water seem to be dragging their feet. There needs to be more urgency.
"They have been carrying out scientific tests, I am not at all happy it is taking so long to reach a conclusion.
"When we get warmer weather. the smell from the plant will recur. They need to sort it out now."
More than 2,500 homes are planned for the south side of Beverley under a new blueprint for the town's future but residents are concerned about capacity at the sewage plant.
Cllr Peacock shares residents' concerns.
He said: "Without proper investment, I don't see how the waste water treatment works will cope.
"They need to upgrade that plant and eliminate the problems."
Yorkshire Water spokesman Matt Thompson revealed consultants have been brought in to help eliminate foul odours from the plant.
He said: "We are working with Aqua Enviro from Wakefield who have been monitoring the different odours and chemicals in the air which produce a rotten egg smell from time to time.
"Generally, the odours are worse on hot days so they will be returning in a few weeks' time to continue work on that."
Mr Thompson insisted Yorkshire Water was aware of plans for thousands of new homes in Beverley.
He said: "It is something we are taking incredibly seriously.
"We are always looking at what needs to be done at key sites like Beverley sewage works so they are in the best possible place to meet challenges created by future population growth.
"We are absolutely on it. If anyone is concerned they should get in touch with Yorkshire Water."
East Riding Council is continuing to monitor the treatment plant.
A spokesman at the council said: "Public protection officers from the council do make regular visits to the Yorkshire Water treatment works at Beverley and monitor the site in response to complaints.
"Numbers of complaints have been low in recent months.
"Yorkshire Water has undertaken a scientific survey to identify the precise cause of the smell but has not yet completed it because of technical issues."
