NEIGHBOURS in Banbury who are living with a smell which reminds them of cat urine have been invited to a public meeting.

About 600 households on the east side of Grimsbury are affected by the odour.

Some neighbours have complained to Cherwell District Council, as they believe the smell is being generated by paint manufacturing firm Paintbox in Middleton Close.

However the company insists it has carried out an investigation and added there were a number of industrial units in the town contributing smells which remain unchallenged.

Tonight at 8pm, MP Tony Baldry will host a public meeting at Burchester Place Community Hall about the issue.

Local environmental officers and the directors of Paintbox have been invited.

David Driscoll, 58, of Brinkburn Grove, said: “Everytime we get an east wind we get the stink.

“We started complaining six or seven years ago. We can’t go into our garden at all.

“If we try and sit out and have a drink you can taste it in the air. The smell is like car spray paint, other people say cat pee.”

He said both he and his wife have suffered headaches and sore throats and are concerned it could be linked to the fumes.

Another resident Peter Spackman, 63, who has lived in Brinkburn Grove for 17 years, said: “The smell is extremely strong.”

Town and district councillor Ann Bonner said: “It’s something that needs to be tackled and tackled forthwith.

“As you approach Banbury along the M40, from about a mile away if the wind is in the right direction, you can smell a pungent smell “As the local elected member we want to give the best impression of the town, but when you turn off junction 11 what do they smell – cat pee.”

Niki Smith, a receptionist at Holiday Inn Express, Ermont Way, said: “I think it smells like rotten eggs.”

A spokesman for Paintbox said the company was aware of the complaints to the council, but added the company was committed to the town and its employees and had a core responsibility to the environment.

He added: “The Banbury facility uses world-class abatement technology and operates under very strict and tight controls.

“The company has carried out a comprehensive and detailed investigation including employing an independent organisation to analyse potential sources of odour as well as co-operating fully with Cherwell District Council.

“All of the materials used at the Paintbox site are widely used within industry and readily available for public use.

“While Paintbox is committed to making sure that all emissions generated from the Banbury site are strictly controlled it must be said that the environment around Banbury has proven to be a significant challenge in identifying specific smells.

“As anyone who lives in Banbury will recognise, there are a number of unabated industrial facilities contributing numerous odours which remain unchallenged.

“Paintbox have requested representation at the residents meeting to answer any questions.”

James Macnamara, Cherwell's executive member for resources and communications, said: “It has been acknowledged by all concerned that there is a problem and we are working very closely with the company to find a long-term solution.”