City on scent of a powerful pong; MARKETS: New neighbours won't like your stench, councillors told.

Byline: By David Bell 

SNIFFY councillors are to pay a fact finding visit to the city's wholesale market - to find out why there's a stink.

Smells from a council-run compactor crushing rotting meat and decomposing vegetables have put the skids under a pounds 25 million redevelopment of the city's Silver Blades ice rink.

Officials also point out that the noise levels from one of the largest and busiest wholesale markets in Europe will be "an inevitable source of complaint" from the 200-plus proposed apartments in the neighbourhood - and could lead to a civil action.

But councillors have made it clear they want to see the return of the famous ice rink, and voted to visit the markets to sniff out the problem odours for themselves.

Mike Petrouis, joint owner of the Planet Ice combine behind the redevelopment scheme, said the rink was not a viable proposition on its own without associated residential development.

"The markets are owned and operated by your own local authority," he told the city's planning committee.

"The inference is the council can't control its own smell.

"Any other operator has to adhere to normal odour standards - so why not Birmingham Council?"

Mr Petrouis claimed concerns over noise and smell had been exaggerated. "The reasons for refusal are verging on the ludicrous and will mean Birmingham missing out on a facility which should be here."

Coun Mike Nangle urged his colleagues to visit the wholesale market before they rubber-stamp any refusal of planning permission.

"We should not dismiss this out of hand. As an international city, an ice rink is the kind of facility Birmingham should have.

"It is not Planet Ice's fault that the council can't control its own stink."