A waste plant has failed to comply with an enforcement notice served on it by the Environment Agency.

On July 21, the agency issued an enforcement on Tamar Energy’s waste plant, in the Bluebridge Industrial Estate, Halstead, after receiving more than 300 complaints about the noise and odour from it.

The plant was given 21 days to comply with the notice, but has failed to do so.

A spokesman from the Environment Agency said: “We have tried to work with Tamar Energy to resolve issues at the site in Halstead by providing advice and recommendations.

“It is an offence to fail to comply with the requirements of an enforcement notice so we are now offering the company a caution which they will have a choice to accept or reject.

“Acceptance of the caution is an admittance of guilt.

“Failure to do so could result in further legal action.

“A caution may be cited in court should the company be subsequently found guilty of a further offence.

“We have also issued a further enforcement notice for the same issue with a date to comply put forward by the company.”

Jon Andrews, Halstead plant manager, said: “We are taking action and continuing to put an additional level of measures in place.

“We are investing a significant amount of time and resources in a solution that is both robust and permanent, and we’re confident that this will work very effectively.

“We’re continuing to work closely with the Environment Agency on this, and have asked for time to enable us to put these sophisticated measures in place as soon as practicably possible.

“We’re committed to being a good neighbour, and are also continuing to liaise with a small number of local residents and businesses nearest to our facility. Our plant continues to operate safely at all times.”