Residents to fight plans for waste site
CAMPAIGNERS ARE gearing up for a battle over plans to turn a redundant peatworks in East Yorkshire into a waste recycling centre.
Up to 100,000 tonnes a year would be processed at the site two miles from Swinefleet, near Goole. Residents who have formed a group, Keep Me Rural, say it will put extra HGV traffic on unsuitable roads, cause smells and could lead to pollution.
Knottingley-based 4R Group, which has yet to submit a planning application, said the site would process materials that “could be beneficially used on farmland” including biosolids, which is organic matter recycled from sewage; digestate left after a process called anaerobic digestion and compost.
These would be treated, or stored, prior to being used for agriculture.
Opponents conducted an exit poll after a meeting held by 4R on Monday which they said showed more than 150 against, 15 unsure and just six in favour.
Resident Vin Clark said there could be as many as a lorry every ten minutes on roads narrowed by parked cars to single file. “The roads are not suitable,” she said. “It’s just tarmac laid on peat. Their argument is that they got the site for industrial use, but that’s 20 years ago and it has become a conservation area.”
They are concerned about potential contamination from runoff into dykes and claimed local farmers were not prepared to use the waste. “There’s traffic issues, health issues and environmental issues. When it becomes airborne it is linked to breathing problems,” she added.
Villager Lisa Myers said road vibrations had bought a classroom ceiling down a couple of months ago. “They put a new surface down which has helped but it won’t help forever,” she said. Even if they were able to mask smells, there would still be “particles” in the air, getting onto washing.
She said: “We feel we are being rough trod. We are going to give it a damn good battle.”
4R technical director Paul Whyatt said he was aware of concerns and did not want to be a bad neighbour. But the site was “very remote” from houses, he said: “I can’t see there being significant odours on a regular basis.” They estimate 16 HGVs in and 16 out every day, with the number suggested by villagers “an absolute worst case.”
Spreading biosolid waste on land was “a very commonplace activity” and while not all farmers would want it, he said, some would want some and some “will want loads.” Their proposals represent around £500,000 investment and will create 11 jobs, he said, adding: “If people have questions they are more than welcome to get in touch.”