An end to the Kinnegar sewage stench may be in sight following news that NI Water is to invest thousands of pounds to ‘sniff out’ the root of the problem.

Last weekend, North Down councillor Andrew Muir reported that “significant progress” had been made in his campaign against the sewage smell which has been emanating from the area surrounding Kinnegar Waste Water Treatment Works in Holywood.

Mr Muir said: “I recently met again with senior NI Water officials to obtain an update on their efforts to deal with the smell which has been particularly bad over the last few months.

“Whilst people living, working or travelling near the sewage plant have had to endure the pong for far too long, I was glad to hear that NI Water are spending approximately £100,000 surveying the entire sewage network across Holywood.

“I am particularly grateful to NI Water for their efforts when public sector finances are tight. I am informed that this report should be ready in October 2010 when I will next meet NI Water to discuss the work to be undertaken to ensure we don’t have another smelly summer in 2011.”

Mr Muir previously revealed to the Community Telegraph that over 70 odour emission incidents took place at the plant in 2009.

A spokesperson for NI Water said: “NI Water always welcomes the opportunity to meet with local representatives to discuss any issues they may have.

“We will continue to update interested parties, including Mr Muir, on work taking place in Kinnegar and the surrounding area.”

Meanwhile, MLAs Simon Hamilton and Michelle McIlveen last week visited Ballyrickard Wastewater Treatment Works in Newtownards to learn first hand about the waste water treatment process and the major investment by NI Water in wastewater services for the Newtownards area.

NI Water and Glen Water hosted the visit to showcase the £12 million upgraded treatment works, which treats wastewater from Newtownards and Comber.

The Ballyrickard plant is part of NI Water’s £122m Omega project which is its Public Private Partnership project for treating waste water.

The scheme also included the provision of a new state-of-the-art waste water treatment works for North Down/Ards.