£80m works could end town 'whiff'

The long-awaited new works have been six years in the making

A £80m sewage treatment works that has been six years in the making has finally begun operating in Berkshire.

It is hoped the new Reading sewage treatment works will bring an end to the notorious "Whitley Whiff" which has blighted parts of the town.

On Monday, the Island Road centre began taking 25% of the waste from the old works at Manor Farm Road.

The 19th Century works have been blamed for the smell often in the air in south Reading over the years.

'Wonderful news'

By the end of May, the new centre will be taking all the waste from the works - and, it is hoped, will have brought an end to the "Whitley Whiff".

Reading Borough Council leader David Sutton said: "The replacement of the old Manor Farm sewage works by a new state-of-the-art plant is wonderful news for Reading - and especially for south Reading."

The design and construction of the new works began in 1998 and 1,400 people have since been involved in building it.

Thames Water bosses say it will serve 284,000 customers when it is officially handed over to the company in October 2004.