A LONG running battle to force the closure of a village centre abattoir could be nearing a conclusion.

Campaigners Boosbeck Against Slaughterhouse (Bash) have spent three years calling on Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council to stop the abattoir from operating in the east Cleveland village amid claims the noise and noxious smells were blighting their lives.

As a result Council officers have been negotiating with Banaras Halal Meats (BHM) to try to reach an agreement in principle that could include relocating the high street facility.

And allowing officers to continue these negotiations is the preferred recommendation in a report being considered by cabinet members, on September 16 – a move that has been welcomed by BASH.

Campaigner Neville Brown said: “It's been a long and difficult fight for us, almost three years, but at last the council appear to be fighting our corner. Hopefully the cabinet will go with officer recommendations, which they always have in previous decisions. Fingers crossed they will do the right thing by the people of Boosbeck who have suffered unnecessarily for many years.

“It is through the determination of residents, who knew all along this premises should never have been there. The villagers have a great deal to thank Councillor David Williams for he has supported us all the way along, and will continue to until the bulldozers move in.”

The council has warned that the approach includes an option to refer back to cabinet and/or full council to consider formal action, if an agreed way forward cannot be reached by September 30.

Formal action recommended for consideration, if the deadline cannot be met, includes a discontinuance notice ordering the abattoir to cease operation or a compulsory purchase order.

Councillor George Dunning, leader of the council, said: “This is a significant step forward and we are appealing for patience as we try to conclude matters.

“While we understand the residents’ concerns, the abattoir is a legitimate business and we must work towards a lawful and robust solution.”

The council says that BHM understand that any agreement must include the future closure of the abattoir, at its current site, and has indicated its preference to reach a negotiated solution.

The authority hopes that this approach could avoid the need for a potentially costly, lengthy and uncertain legal process.