RESIDENTS who have endured the stink of sewage in their homes and gardens for months have welcomed North West Water's commitment to tackle smells - whatever the cost.

Senior managers at the water company this week promised to make money available for further work at Kendal's Wattsfield sewage plant, to resolve the problem odours.

Six weeks ago, The Westmorland Gazette launched Stop the Stink, a campaign calling on North West Water to back any plans drawn up to tackle the sewage smells long-term, to fund those plans, and to give a firm start date for work.

In a statement faxed to the Gazette this week, the company confirmed: "Senior NWW managers have promised that they will make the funding available for further investment work to resolve the problem of odours at Kendal wastewater treatment works.

"Since the start of the year £100,000 has been spent at the works to reduce odours.

The causes of the odours have been investigated throughout the year, and this research is continuing.

"A long-term solution is being designed at present, in conjunction with the ongoing investigations.

The design will be completed and work will start on site by January, 2001."

Colin South, director of wastewater services, said: "We have made a lot of progress this year in reducing the odours at Kendal, but we are determined that any long-term scheme will be the right one for the works and the neighbouring residents.

Money is not an issue - getting it right is."

Work is due to finish in March, 2001, hopefully ending months of misery for residents.

People living in Bellingham Road and Wattsfield Road, two of the streets closest to the sewage works, welcomed NWW's pledges, and said they believed the Gazette's campaign had helped to secure progress on tackling the smells.

Stan Harrison said: "I'm just hoping whatever they do between now and next March is going to solve the problem, and it's not going to leave us with smells in the future."

He said residents needed to be involved in monitoring smells next year.

"Your campaign has certainly concentrated the minds of NWW's directors," said Mr Harrison.

"It's been very helpful."

Peter Storey said the campaign had "really moved things," and hoped the smells would be tackled once and for all.

Jean Simpson said she believed NWW was now taking the problem seriously.

"Certainly it's been less smelly recently, but it always is when it's colder," she said.

"I think things are looking up.

I'm not going to make any profound statements until they've looked up."

Dr Ernie Robin said: "Really from about July onwards there's been an acceleration in attempts to try to improve the situation."

He is also calling for residents to be involved in monitoring the odour situation next year, and wants the water company and South Lakeland District Council to state how odours will be assessed.

Mayor of Kendal, Coun Tom Clare - who lives on Bellingham Road - said: "We are all pleased that we've got this far.

The proof will come if the measures they proposed will solve the problem."

Mr Clare, who called for reduced council tax and water rates bills until the smells had been tackled, added: "Thanks to yourselves (the Gazette) everybody is aware of the problem."

Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Collins was "delighted" that NWW had given a firm commitment to providing a lasting solution to the stink.

"I believe the Gazette's Stop the Stink campaign has been instrumental in the water company's announcement, and I will be using my meeting in October with John Roberts, the chief executive of United Utilities, to discuss the company's plans in detail."