Environment bosses are preparing to bring legal action against a waste plant blighted by smells.
Residents living near the £320m Farington Waste Technology Park, on Sustainability Way, Leyland, have complained about odours coming from the site since it opened in 2010.
The site is operated under a permit granted by the Environment Agency and it is understood the action relates to breaches of the permit relating to odour.
Members of the public who have experienced problems with smells have been asked to give statements to the agency.
A source close to the case said the company was inspected to be in court soon.
Bosses at the site have spent £1.2m trying to fix the problems and five new 25m high chimneys or ‘stacks’ are now up at the site.
Work has also been carried out to fix the plant’s bio-filters, which organically break down smells before they are released into the air, and the new chimneys are the last phase of works expected to solve the problem for good.
Bosses at the site say the situation is now ‘much improved’.
There was one complaint to the plant in October, one complaint in November, and no complaints in December.Global Renewables run the site under a contract with Lancashire County Council.
As well as the waste plant, the site also includes an education centre which has seen 15,000 children pass through the doors.
Meanwhile, leaflets will soon be sent out to every household in Farington asking for views on how a £100,000 ‘gesture of goodwill’ could be spent.
Lancashire County Council announced deductions in payments to the waste giant whilst there was problems with smells would be given to residents to be spent on projects in the community.
A spokesman for Global Renewables said that as the matter was ongoing they were unable to comment. The Environment Agency also said they could not comment on ongoing matters.