SEVEN weeks into the Redhill landfill pong saga, Reigate MP Crispin Blunt says he expects those responsible for the stench to provide hundreds of thousands of pounds in grants to local good causes as compensation.
Mr Blunt said that, following pressure on the site operators, Biffa has made two pledges on the Biffa Award Scheme.
Firstly, for the next £250,000 worth of award funds, Biffa shareholders will provide the deposit for grant applications. The money will come directly from Biffa and will not be taken from the landfill tax levy. Applicants for award payments are otherwise required to provide a 10 per cent deposit on the total value of the grant.
Secondly, at the next Biffa Award Trust meeting on April 29, the three Biffa representatives on the board will seek to change the relative allocation of funds to put a greater weight on locality.
Mr Blunt told the Mirror he expected hundreds of thousands of pounds to be granted to local schemes in the coming months and years.
He added: "I support the steps that Biffa has taken around its award scheme, and I encourage local charities, environmental schemes, and groups with sports facilities to come forward with proposals.
If schemes local to Redhill are not winning substantial packages within the next few years, I will want to know why."
The Environment Agency is continuing to monitor emissions from the site, which has been causing a stench over the town and beyond since mid January. It has not yet revealed findings of air quality monitoring.
Biffa maintains the gases being emitted are not at a harmful level.
