TOWN councillors are kicking up a stink over rotting food fears in Tewkesbury.

The borough council plans to start collecting residents' food waste from next month as part of a revamped rubbish collection system aimed at increasing recycling and reducing landfill.

It is thought 20 tonnes of food will be collected each day and stored at a proposed waste transfer station in Northway Lane before being taken to a composting facility at Dymock, near Ledbury.

While town councillors back the borough's scheme to recycle more, they question this site being used to store food waste and want the planning application to be rejected.

In a statement to be sent to the county council, which will consider the matter, they said: "The council has concerns regarding the location of the site and type of waste to be stored. It could result in what it feels could be a health hazard to nearby householders and food outlets."

Committee member Chuck Pavey said: "There are two bungalows in very close proximity. If there are foul smells coming from this site, it could be very annoying.

"It could carry in the wind to other areas of the town. How long is the food going to be there? I don't think it's going to be very pleasant.

"What we're asking is, is that the right place to be storing this?"

But the company running the station, Smiths (Gloucester) Ltd, has yet to get planning permission to store food waste at the station.

In its application, it says the food will be kept in sealed containers and will be kept at the site "for short periods of time". It says this will normally be for one day but could be longer.

A borough council spokesman said: "The site is authorised by the Environment Agency and is therefore subject to strict conditions and controls to ensure there are no hazards to human health."

Members of the public have until April 6 to comment on the proposal, which is likely to go before the county council's planning committee in May.