In the last week, there have been two key developments that residents ought to be aware of.
First, the Environment Agency has agreed to our request that independent testing be undertaken on the waste to ensure that there is no immediate threat to the health of residents living near to this dreadful site. A volumetric survey will also be done so that the Agency has a proper and accurate baseline to determine exactly how much waste is being exported from the site and whether it is in line with the High Court’s recent judgment. The Chief Executive has responded to my latest representation with a firm commitment to carry both of these surveys and disseminate the results before Christmas.
Second, the Fire Minister, Brandon Lewis MP, has sent me written confirmation that he has dismissed Waste 4 Fuel Ltd’s latest attempt to secure permission to store more flammable material at the site. This decision is very welcome and will come as a relief to the community. I made it very clear to the Secretary of State that any new permission to store flammable material would serve to compound the problems we have with this facility, and that it would make it even harder for all the public agencies to bring this operator back into compliance with the law. In the Chief Fire Officer’s advice note to the Secretary of State, he states that “Waste 4 Fuel are failing to prevent outbreaks of fire” and that “Waste 4 Fuel are not proactively preventing fires from either starting or spreading on its site.” His advice concludes that “15 fires between December 2011 and December 2013 is too many.”
I will be continuing to work closely with ward councillors and the local Residents’ Association to ensure that this site is kept high on the Environment Agency’s list of priorities.