Residents have spoken of their fear that plans to build a waste plant on the outskirts of Colney Heath would cause a terrible smell.

They claim that the smell coming from an existing plant in the area, which operates in South Mimms, is already making their lives a misery and another plant would make the situation even worse.

Agrivert, an organic waste management solution company, has submitted plans to Hertfordshire County Council for an anaerobic digestion plant at Coursers Farm in Coursers Road.

Steve Woodland, who lives in the area, believes that the smell is not just contained to Colney Heath, and claims that at its worst, can spread to London Colney and Potters Bar.

He said: "It is a putrid smell - it is like having sick in your car.

"In summer time you want to have your windows open but I can’t have them open."

If the plans are granted, the site could process and manage up to 48,500 tonnes of biodegradable organic waste each year which would produce enough electricity to power 4,500 homes.

Sharon Waters, who has lived in the area for five years, believes that her quality of life is suffering due to the smell of the existing plant, especially during the warmer months.

She said: "The thought of another plant even nearer is quite horrifying.

"It will be a nightmare - if they can’t get one right how are they going to get two right?

"I can’t put the roof down on my car or sit out in the garden and enjoy it - you would never hang washing out."

Ms Waters spend all of last summer ringing the environmental agency to complain about the smell.

She said: "I know the number off by heart now. I was ringing every day.

"I would have had a whole pad of reference numbers by now."

The current plant in South Mimms deals with green, kitchen and cardboard waste products collected from around the county. However, the new site would deal with food waste from the commercial and industrial sectors including restaurants and schools.

A representative from the company said: "Agrivert has been in close liaison with the local parish councils, some of whom have visited our similar anaerobic digester in Oxfordshire where feedback was broadly very positive. "The immediate neighbours at Coursers Farm have also visited our Oxfordshire plant to allay any concerns they may have had. "The proposed plant is fully enclosed, accepting food waste and converting it into enough renewable electricity for 4,500 homes and organic fertiliser for 2,500 acres of farmland."

St Albans Green councillor Simon Grover hopes that the new plant will not have such negative impacts on residents.

He said: "Each plant is different and has a different specification.

"The new one will be more modern so I would hope it would be less of a problem.

"It comes down to the council making sure that they put in conditions to make sure it is all right for local people and making sure that the company sticks to it.

"In principle I think it is a great idea and it is what the area needs."