Neighbours upset over blood spills at poultry plant

A poultry plant in an inner-city Calgary neighbourhood won't be fined for two recent blood spills, says Alberta Environment officials.

The spills from trucks onto a city road leading in and out of the Lilydale plant in Ramsay — one in late December and the other last week — were cleaned up quickly and there is no need to penalize the company, said a spokesperson for the department.

People who live in homes next to the plant are unhappy with the decision.

Tracey Loston, a resident of the neighbourhood for five years, said the chicken plant should be moved.

"I think they should be shut down instead of a fine, and any fine they do have perhaps should be given to the community because they have done a lot of damage to our community, and a lot of damage mentally to the residents who live close to the plant," she said.

Reviewing its options

A spokesperson for Lilydale told CBC News the company is reviewing its options to leave Ramsay and in the meantime will continue to do its best to mitigate the plant's impact on the community.

Living in the shadow of the Lilydale chicken plant is having an impact on people's health, Loston said.  

"The smell and the noise coming from the plant is pretty bothersome."

Loston is part of a group of 18 residents documenting their complaints against the plant. The group has hired an environmental lawyer.

She is hopeful another investigation into ammonia leaks on Sept. 13 and Oct. 24 will have more of an impact.

The result of that investigation is expected within two months, she said, although Alberta Environment wouldn't comment on the matter.