A Cleckheaton company is proposing to spend £500,000 to stop nasty smells from its factory causing a nuisance to residents.

But some residents fear the plan by BBA Friction - which makes brake pads for the motor industry - could create an eyesore.

The company has applied to Kirklees Council for planning permission to double the height of seven chimneys to 20 metres and install sophisticated filtration units in them.

Managing director Dennis Moran said: "The higher the stacks the more the emissions will be diluted into the atmosphere.

"Our consultants have done computer models to show the effect. We have spent about £30,000 on research for the latest solution.''

But resident Nick Munslow, of nearby Marsland Court, whose hillside home backs on to the chimneys, said: "It will be great if BBA can get rid of the smells but I am worried the higher stacks will spoil the view across the valley. At the moment you can't see most of them because of trees.''

Last year BBA installed a £50,000 system in the stacks to neutralise the odours after residents complained about smells similar to burning rubber and rotten eggs.

The company traced the pongs to by-products released during the manufacture of brake linings.

Mr Moran said: "We are still getting complaints about the smells but we believe this latest plan will solve the problem. If we get planning permission we are going to write to all the residents explaining what we want to do.

"And our consultants are creating photographs with a computer model of how the area will look with the higher stacks.

"We will listen to what the residents have to say before going ahead with any plans. We want to be good neighbours, not plough on regardless.''

BBA is one of the Spen Valley's biggest employers, with 450 workers at the Cleckheaton site and a further 110 at a factory in Birstall.

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