‘Lafarge are making big money while we suffer’
RESIDENTS VOICE CONCERNS OVER DUST FROM CEMENT FACTORY
VILLAGERS have spoken of their health fears concerning the operation of a cement factory they say is casting a cloud over the area.
Concerns were presented at a meeting held at Calton Village Hall last week regarding noise and dust emissions from Lafarge Cement’s Cauldon works near Waterhouses.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the Environment Agency, Staffordshire Moorlands District Council’s environmental officer, the manager of the Cauldon works and members of the public.
More than 60 people have now joined a working action group following a steep rise in complaints. One resident said: “This is affecting my family. What is Lafarge going to do about the dust and noise?
“It is getting worse and I have never known it as bad. There is more night time work and we are being kept awake. Lafarge are making money while we are suffering. We want to see results, not a lot of waffle as nothing is being done.
“My health has suffered and I have COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). My doctor has told me that I am living in the worst place with my condition. They shut their ears. I have never known anything so ridiculous in all my life, they just want to cut corners which brings more nuisance.”
A Cauldon resident said: “We have had a monitoring system in our house. It was more than 50 decibels at night. At some stages it was 58 at night which is way above that permitted.
“It is even worse at weekends when the manager is not there. It is also bad on shift changes as it seems that the doors are all left open. The manager needs to come down harder on his workforce.”
Another resident told the meeting that it had cost them £150 to get the dirt off their car.
A Winkhill resident said that there were issues in their village. She said: “I have dust on my car and I have issues about my health with it. It is the company’s duty to measure it, as these are their emissions.” Steven Locke, chairman of the newly formed action group, said: “The noise is consistent. We are told that a variable speed drive is to be replaced in January. We can give pictures of dust on cars, windows and fields. This can’t be right.
“You can’t have dust on people homes and then say you are operating within the permit. Everything seems to be on Lafarge terms. Why can’t you shut down at Christmas for a week to give residents some quiet time, but it’s about money.”
Environment Agency officer Sarah Dennis said it had been checking the operation against the company’s permit.
She said: “We do site visits and check equipment on the site. If the company breaches the permit they have to tell us within 24 hours. If they didn’t we would still find out.
“We can suspend the permit and go to prosecution. There have been eight breaches this year. The parish council has also raised issues with us.”
Factory manager Stuart Hutchings said a new variable speed drive should help with the noise.
He said: “The proof is in the pudding, we are not ignoring you. The noise started in February
2020. We would urge people to ring us when they have an issue with the works.
“We have spent time doing noise surveys, but cannot nail it down. We have addressed some issues by sealing and insulating buildings. It has surprised us that people two miles away have complained. “We then looked at a fan. When the noise started we had a problem with a variable speed drive. It has been on for 30 years and is at the end of its life. “We have tried to fix it and have stopped the plant many times to overhaul it, but it failed again. Starting and stopping can do significant damage. We are now going to bite the bullet and replace it. This is a huge investment of £1million. It is a huge drive, as big as a van. Work will start on January 9.”
Kirstin Mccarthy, sustainability director at Lafarge, said it wanted to work with the action group.
She said: “Our reputation is important, we want to work with you. We want to significantly improve our reputation.
“We are listening and taking concerns back to the main board.
“My remit is to make us the leading supplier and transform our business. Our vision is working with the community.”
This is affecting my family. What is Lafarge going to do about the dust and noise?
Resident