Waste plant operators will not have to remove 1,200 tonnes of rotting rubbish from their site – at least for the moment.

Last week, the Kent Messenger reported how Kent Enviropower had been ordered to remove the rotting rubbish from the Allington incinerator site, which some residents blamed for making their neighbourhood “smelly and fly-ridden”.

The company had initially been given until Friday, August 15 to remove the waste, with Environment Agency officials warning that failure to comply could result in legal action.

However the Environment Agency has announced the order has been reviewed, and they are no longer demanding the removal of the waste.

An Environment Agency statement said: “We have considered the odour implications of removing the waste from the site and are continuing discussions with them to decide the best long-term action to take, in order to cause the least disturbance to local residents.

“Following a meeting with Kent Enviropower, we have insisted that the company continues with the fly-control measures that they have been taking.

“This seems to have considerably reduced the numbers on site in the last few days.

"If the present pest-control action ceases to be sufficient to control the flies we will look to taking further enforcement action."