Neighbours of the island’s biggest dairy farm called foul yesterday on claims that a stink from the operation had lessened.

A spokesman for the residents, who asked not to be named, said the claims had created “much frustration and confusion”.

He explained that on the same day it was reported that the smell had been reduced, a resident who operates an Airbnb business had guests arrive and leave on the same day because they could not stand the smell.

The spokesman added: “They had booked to stay at the accommodation for one week, resulting in a financial and reputational loss to the Airbnb owner.”

He was speaking only days after it was reported action had been taken by the owners of the Green Land Dairy Farm, on Store Hill in Smith’s, to address the smell.

Farmers Valter and Lidia Medeiros said that the treatment of manure with enzymes over the past few months had led to a “dramatic change in odour” in the area.

The Department of Health said that “significant improvements” had been made.

However, neighbours of the farm dismissed the claims.

The spokesman said: “The surrounding residents have not yet been surveyed or asked their opinions regarding any ‘changes’ or ‘improvements’ as a result of the operations at the farm.”

He said the area around the farm continued to suffer problems, including a foul smell, manure runoff, flies, pigeons and rats.

The spokesman added that it appeared the claims of nuisance reduction were “quantified on the basis that there has been a reduced number of complaint calls recently made to the department, rather than the collection of qualitative evidence”.

Neighbours were also concerned by a health department statement that steps had been taken to “mediate a resolution” of the problem and news that the farmers had ordered a waste “digester” to process raw manure.

The spokesman added that there had been “no process of active mediation” between the farm and residents and that plans for the digester had not been publicly discussed.

He added: “To our knowledge no application for planning permission has yet been made.

“There is no indication that the Department of Planning will support the plan.”

The spokesman said proposing a digester as a solution to the problem was “premature and warrants a full investigation”.

He added that, although many residents had stopped complaining about the farm, “that does not mean the problem has been resolved or improved”.

The spokesman said residents looked forward to an update from the health department and the minister on what “is now one of the largest environmental health and property value concerns on the island”.