Campaigners are celebrating after Anglian Water ditched controversial waste treatment work in Stambridge.

The company intends to stop producing environmentally-friendly soil conditioner at the plant early next year.

Protesters, who have united under the name Sludgewatch, have been fighting Anglian Water for years over the system, which they claimed was dangerous, dusty and unclean.

Called N-Viro production, it mixes cement kiln dust with the sludge to form the conditioner, which is then sold on to farmers.

The water company says it decided to pull the plug on N-Viro because a Kent-based business which supplies pure cement kiln dust (CKD) ceased trading. Instead, sludge with water removed will be produced and taken from the site in sealed containers.

Ron Bailey, vice-chairman of Sludgewatch, said: "Everyone who has battled for so long on this issue is delighted with the announcement."

County councillor Tracey Chapman (Con, Rochford North), who has been one of the most vocal opponents to the scheme, added: "We are very happy with this decision and are extremely grateful to Anglian Water for listening to the concerns of the public because the CKD did frighten us."

Graham Frankland of Anglian Water said: "Hopefully this announcement will allay the concerns that people in the area had concerning dust and odour.

"We have got to talk with the regulators and planners but we are hoping that the process will be switched over by early next year."

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