Neighbours have raised concerns about plans to almost quadruple the size of a composting site.

Farmer Alistair Pinkerton has submitted a planning application to increase the size if compost heaps at Blackbirds Farm, in Blackbirds Lane, Aldenham, from 8,000 tonnes to 31,000 tonnes.

Mr Pinkerton leases the land from Hertfordshire County Council, and uses the compost for fertiliser.

Chris Lack, 55, of Pegmire Lane, Aldenham, is among neighbours concerned the increase of the compost site will have a detrimental impact on people who live nearby.

He said: “The area now looks like Dante’s Inferno. Surely there are more suitable places for the site to be placed?

“Blackbirds Farm has a lot of land further away from residential areas and there is a nursery near here as well.

“It is just beyond belief that they have built the site so close to residents. I have lived here for 10 years and there is now constant beeping of lorries going in and out of the site.

“We used to hear birds chirping but now we only hear the beeping of the lorries.”

The Environment Agency currently restricts all new compost sites from being built closer than 250m from residential properties. Mr Lack lives 253m away and he believes it is not far enough.

He said: “I am not against the site being in the area but there was no consultation and I know if there was there would have been a lot of objections.

“It is only a matter of time one of the children at the nearby schools and nursery will be hit down by the large vehicles.”

Compost, which is formed through the decomposition of organic material, contains bacteria, spores and fungi that can become airborne as bioaerosols and are potentially harmful to humans.

Typically it takes three months for organic waste to turn into usable compost, during which time temperatures inside the compost heaps can reach up to 65C.

Most of the compost sites use open-air techniques where waste is piled in the open and regularly turned over by heavy machinery, which aids composition but spreads dust.

Although the land is within Hertsmere Borough Council’s authority, the county council will decide the planning application as it is the landowner.

Speaking on behalf of Hertfordshire County Council spokesman Andrew Dawson said: “Operations at Blackbirds Farm, in which green waste is composted for use as a fertiliser on the land itself, have been subject to inspections by Hertfordshire County Council and the Environment Agency.

“There has been nothing to suggest any breaches of the consents or permissions granted for agricultural activity on the site.

“A planning application has been submitted to Hertfordshire County Council to increase the maximum throughput of green waste from 8,000 tonnes per annum to 31,000 tonnes per annum, which has yet to be heard. As such it would be inappropriate for us to comment further.”