Concerns over 'creosote smell' over central Worthing

Worthing Borough Council has apologised to residents affected by an ‘unpleasant smell’ in Worthing.

An email sent to the Worthing Herald raised concerns about a creosote smell in the centre of the town.

The resident wrote: "For the past week a horrible toxic smell of creosote has pervaded the air over central Worthing where I live. It’s emanating from the new development on the old gas works site on Lyndhurst Road.

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"It looks like the creosote is related to the previous gasworks – maybe petrochemicals. The toxic smell is evident today."

Amended plans for more homes at a former gas works were approved by Worthing Borough Council earlier this year.Amended plans for more homes at a former gas works were approved by Worthing Borough Council earlier this year.
Amended plans for more homes at a former gas works were approved by Worthing Borough Council earlier this year.

Worthing Borough Council has since offered an explanation – and apologised to residents.

A spokesperson said: “We’re sorry that an unpleasant smell coming from the development of the old gas works site adjacent to Lyndhurst Road has been affecting residents.

“We have been informed by the developer that the offending material, coal tar, is due to be removed from the site this week, meaning the smell should dissipate in the coming days.

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“Although unpleasant, the odour itself will not cause any ill health and the site contractors are actively monitoring the air quality. We visited the site last week and saw that odour suppression measures are being implemented.

“The nasal sensory threshold for volatile organic compounds such as coal tar is very low, meaning that even in small concentrations we are able to smell its presence.

“We hope the smell will begin to clear soon for those being affected.”

Amended plans for more homes at a former gas works were approved by Worthing Borough Council earlier this year.

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In 2021, the councils planning committee granted permission for up to 209 homes across five apartment blocks at the site, on the corner of Park Road and Lyndhurst road.

Amended plans for the site were approved by the committee at its meeting on Wednesday, March 20, with 19 extra flats and an eighth story added to one of the blocks.

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