Whites Recycling has submitted its third application to retain three vast waste lagoons off Upgate Road in Seething, despite years of fierce opposition from villagers.

Now Kay Mason Billig, councillor for Loddon and Chedgrave and leader of Norfolk County Council, has sided with locals objecting to the plans.

There have been calls to drain the waste lagoons over noxious smell concerns (Image: Norfolk County Council)

Ms Mason Billig said: "We have managed to refuse the application on two separate occasions and I will ask the committee to refuse this again.

"If that is successful I will write again to the Environment Agency (EA) and ask them to review their position on the site.

"The least they can do is come and meet with local people and understand our concerns.

"If we get a mayor for Norfolk, I have asked the government to consider putting the powers of the EA in the mayor's hands. That way we will have more local control."

Kay Mason Billig, leader of Norfolk County Council (Image: Denise Bradley)

She urged locals to write directly to the Environment Agency to raise their concerns.

The three lagoons, which together hold the equivalent of 11 Olympic-sized swimming pools, store organic liquid waste from the food and drink industry before it is used as fertiliser.

Locals have long complained about the strong odours and the increased flow of lorries calling at the site, arguing the operation is unsuitable for the village.

The lagoons are located within the village of Seething off Upgate Road (Image: Google Maps)

Phil Garnham, a concerned local, said: "Because the Environment Agency didn't stop to think about the impact this would have on a village of 350 people they just issued it.

"And in March I will have to go and explain to a group of councillors who sit in Norwich, who represent various parts of the county, what impact this is having on our village."

Two previous applications for the site were refused after being met with much outrage from the local community.

© Eastern Daily Press