Report on feedback from public exhibitons held on 15th, 16th and 23rd July
Compiled by Green Issues Communiqué on behalf of 3SE
New waste facility, Bolton Road, Manvers – July 2011
CONTENTS
1. Introduction 3
1.1 Background 3
1.2 Advertising the exhibition 3
1.3 Public exhibitions and feedback 4
2. Summary of Feedback Received 6
2.1 Traffic/Highways 6
2.2 Local environment 8
2.3 Wrong Location 9
2.4 Local Employment 9
2.5 Community Liaison Group 9
2.6 Questions 9
2.7 Response to issues raised 10
3. Next Steps 14
1. Introduction
1.1 Background
Green Issues Communiqué was appointed by Shanks in April 2011 to draw up and implement a programme of community consultation on its proposals for a new waste facility on Bolton Road in Manvers.
Alongside other activities to engage directly with elected representatives and residents’ groups Green Issues recommended that public exhibitions be held to which residents were invited by a newsletter that detailed the proposals. The event would also be advertised in the local papers, in local libraries and with help from local parish councils. In a previous consultation over the Council’s Local Development Framework Development Plan Document, many residents had said they wished to be kept updated by newsletter. We therefore aimed to produce a newsletter that was detailed enough to keep residents informed without their having to attend an event, but also to hold events for those who would find it helpful to discuss the proposals, in person, with members of the project team.
1.2 Advertising the exhibition
18,499 newsletters were hand delivered to local addresses in the local area. These included 900 business addresses and 17,600 households. (Also available on this website)
The exhibitions were also advertised in the following local papers
- The Rotherham Advertiser
- The Doncaster Free Press
- The Barnsley Chronicle
- The South Yorkshire Times
- The Dearne Valley Weekender
Copies of the newsletter were sent for display in local libraries in order to further raise awareness and, in addition, were mailed to the following parish councils (via the clerk):
Denaby Parish Council
- Adwick-upon-Dearne Parish Council
- Barnburgh & Harlington Parish Council
- Hickleton Parish Council
- Billingley Parish Council
Councillors from the site and neighbouring wards in Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham council were invited as were the relevant Cabinet members and members of Rotherham’s Planning Committee. Letters of invitation were also send to Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, John Healey MP and Michael Dugher MP as the local Parliamentary representatives.
1.3 Public exhibitions and feedback
The exhibition was held on the following days:
- Friday 15 July (3.00 pm – 7.30 pm): Montgomery Hall, Church Street, Wath upon Dearne, Rotherham S63 7RD
- Saturday 16 July (11.00 am – 4.00 pm): Mexborough Resource Centre, Dolcliffe Road, Mexborough, Doncaster S64 9AZ
- Saturday 23 July (12.00 pm – 4.00 pm): Dearne Advanced Learning Centre, Goldthorpe Road, Barnsley S63 9EW
The events were staffed by representatives of the following organisations:
- Shanks
- SSE
- Mouchel
- Green Issues Communiqué
- Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
- Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
- Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council
Those attending were able to look at a display which was available in printed out format to take home. A series of photomontages were made available showing the site (before and after) from a number of different viewpoints in the surrounding area . These viewpoints can also be made available upon request. Samples of Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF) were also provided.
A total of 129 people attended on the three days. Those people attending were able to fill in their feedback form at the event(s) themselves or, alternatively, take them home for completion and then return via a freepost address (by a deadline of 1 August).
2. Summary of Feedback Received
Of the 34 responses completed and returned by 1 August, 7 people said the proposals would provide a good facility for the local area, provided that commitments on addressing local environmental issues (eg smells/dust) were followed through.
Of the 27 people who raised concerns, the majority related to the potential impact of traffic on the local road network. Specifically, these related to the volume of traffic and congestion, and concerns that the roads in that area are not suitable for large lorries. Five people said the site was the wrong location for such a facility because it is too populated and busy.
Other concerns related to how the buildings would look nada and environmental issues such as noise, dust and smells – although most felt these had been addressed.
2.1 Traffic/Highways
Of the 20 people who raised specific concerns about traffic, the points made were as follows:
Roads not suitable for large lorries
The most frequently mentioned issue was the suitability of the roads around the site to accommodate refuse lorries and large vehicles. In particular, it was felt that Bolton Road was not wide enough. There was also concern that the low railway bridge on Wath Road would cause problems as high vehicles can only pass under it by moving to the middle of the road thereby increasing the risk of accidents. Additional comments related to the need for better road markings on the major routes in the locality, in particular on the Manvers roundabout.
Traffic volume/congestion/number of journeys
The extra number of journeys envisaged was also frequently mentioned. There is concern that there are already a number of call centres and distribution centres creating traffic in the area and, together with a growing local population due to new housing developments, the local roads are becoming increasingly congested. A number of people felt that the roads around the site were already very busy at peak times – particularly Manvers Way but also on the major routes nearby. It was felt by many respondents that this development and the predicted number of additional vehicular movements it generated would make this a lot worse. Particular junctions/roads that were noted in this respect were:
- Traffic from Manvers Roundabout along Bolton Road
- Congestion at the bottom of Rawmarsh/Parkgate
- Congestion along Bolton Road, Sticking Lane, A6023 Wath Road and Doncaster Road through Wath
- Congestion running into Golden Smithies Lane
- Road from Aldwick-upon-Dearne goes over 2 bridges and has severe bends which may be unsuitable for large vehicles and the river bridge has weight restrictions
- Entrance from Bolton Road is not very wide and includes a sharp turn – causing difficulties for lorries turning in and out of site
- Congestion at the Junction on Manvers Road, road to M1 and the road to Darfield – additional road markings and lights may be needed
Deterioration of Roads
A number of people were concerned that, because of the additional traffic created by the development, the road surfaces in the area would deteriorate, particularly on Manvers Way. It was felt by many that the roads were not built for large lorries and heavy traffic, giving rise to problems in the future.
Alternative Forms of Transport
A few respondents suggested that it may be possible to use the adjacent railway to transport waste to Ferrybridge. Making use of local waterways was also suggested as an alternative means of transport for the waste.
Impact on local pedestrian and cycle routes
There was concern that the development might affect the bridleway on Bolton Road.
2.2 Local environment
The impact on the local environment had been an issue of concern but most (although not all) were reassured that the proposals had addressed these issues. A number of people commented that the proposals seemed environmentally friendly, and, providing the commitments on environmental impact were followed through, they were satisfied that the development would not cause a problem. There were also comments that the impact on the local environment should be monitored once the development was built, and that the proposed working practices on the site should also be checked. Some people acknowledged that there was a need to reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfill (and one respondent felt strongly enough to write a poem about it). One person commented that the site was always a designated industrial site and that a waste facility was consistent with that.
There were still some people who were concerned that the area was only just being ‘cleaned up’ from past industries and that this facility would cause more pollution. Of those, the following specific issues were raised:
- Noise
- Smells
- Dust/Pollution
Flooding
Two respondents questioned the suitability of the site due to flood risk. They commented that the area is prone to flooding due to the proximity to the River Dearne. Flooding in the past has also made some local roads impassable, which would affect deliveries to the site.
Appearance of the site
There were a number of comments about the visual impact of the buildings. There was some criticism of other buildings in the area, such as the Next Distribution Centre, and that another large building would further ruin the landscape. A number of respondents suggested colouring the buildings green to fit in with the local countryside, and that trees and shrubs should be planted to provide a screen.
Environment/Sustainability
There was recognition by some respondents that the facility would help to address the problem of waste in a sustainable way. Some also thought it was a much-needed facility for the area. Two respondents suggested that further effort should go into encouraging and educating people to reduce the amount of waste they produce. It was also suggested that roadside collections of recyclable waste should be increased.
2.3 Wrong Location
Five respondents felt it was the wrong location for such a facility and that it should be sited elsewhere. The old steel works site at Aldwarke was suggested as an alternative
2.4 Local Employment
Two of the respondents recognised that the development would provide local jobs.
2.5 Community Liaison Group
Visitors to the exhibitions were asked on the feedback form if they were interested in joining a Community Liaison Group. It was stated that the group would be formed to enable the developer to work with local residents, councillors and other interested local people, both during the planning process and beyond, should the plant receive planning permission. Once the level of potential interest had been ascertained, respondents would be contacted.
Of those attending the exhibition, 19 people expressed an interest in getting involved in the proposed Community Liaison Group. They will be contacted and invited to a preliminary meeting.
2.6 Questions
There were also some questions from respondents which we have set out below together with our response:
How much noise will there be? The noise emissions will be no greater than those already emitted by the adjacent warehouse or from other nearby sources, eg trains and vehicles.
- Will it be possible for a future owner to change the use for the site, for example, change the means of waste disposal? Not for the 25 years’ duration of 3SE’s contract with the three local authorities (which lasts from 2015 until 2040).
- Will there be a limit on the numbers of lorries going in and out of the site? No, though there is very little scope for the numbers entering and leaving to increase as the facility is designed to deal with 265,000 tonnes of waste per year.
- Will roadside collections of recyclable waste be extended? There are no immediate plans for this. It should be noted that 3SE’s facility provides a solution for black bag waste only.
- Will there also be campaigns, run by the local authorities, to encourage people to reduce their waste? 3SE’s contract with the three local authorities requires them to assist in waste minimisation activities. 3SE will be working with the Authorities in the on-site visitors centre on waste minimisation.
2.7 Response to issues raised
3SE will be sending this report to officers at Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham Councils so that residents’ comments can be fed into discussions about the plans as they evolve. In the meantime, we would like to make the following comments on the feedback we have received:
The impact on local highways was, by far, the issue of the greatest interest and concern. We have noted the comments made about the suitability of local roads for large vehicles. We have sought to keep to an absolute minimum the number of vehicles using local roads at peak times which will, in turn, minimise the impact on local traffic flows and will look at suggestions for better road markings to make sure the space available is used efficiently. There were a lot of comments about the volume of traffic on local roads and concern about the road network’s ability to cope. It is worth putting the projected vehicle movements in context – by way of example, at the junction where the A633 meets the A6195 there are currently 11,163 traffic movements (according to our traffic count on 28 September 2010) of which 817 are HGVs. The waste facility and the vehicle movements generated will add 92 movements per day at that junction (as far as possible, outside peak hours). We will also be working with the local authorities to ensure that adequate funds are made available for the maintenance of local roads and will be putting forward a traffic management plan for their consideration as part of our contract with them.
BDR has undertaken a feasibility study into alternative forms of transport which show that these will not provide a suitable solution to the facility’s transport needs. For example, there are no suitable railheads for loading waste in the partnership council areas or unloading it at the site.
We can confirm that local footpaths will remain open and that the bridleway will remain on its original route following construction. There will be a need for a temporary closure of the bridleway during the construction works, and a diversion put in place, although we will ensure that this is for as short a duration as possible.
A number of comments were made about local environmental considerations. In response to concerns about noise, dust and smells we would like to stress that all operations will take place inside the building, so activities such as the unloading of waste will be enclosed. The facility will operate under negative pressure, which means that air will be sucked in rather than going out, and will be used in the drying and treatment process. All air released to the atmosphere will first pass through bio-filters, which stop smells leaving the plant. Any dust that is produced inside the facility will be drawn through the centre’s dust extraction system, so it will not be released outside.
The site does not lie within a flood zone area as defined by the Environment Agency. The map below shows the area that would be affected by a 1 in 1000-year flood event (light blue). The area outside of this is therefore deemed to not be at risk of river flooding.
However, 3SE will ensure that surface water run-off from their facility is no greater than a ‘green field’ standard despite the construction of buildings and concrete on site. This will be through semi-permeable hard standings and retention ponds to allow the safe discharge of surface water into the adjacent Houndhill Dyke.
In response to comments about the building’s appearance it will be approximately 3 metres smaller in height (at its highest point) than the adjacent Next warehouse. The building will be shielded from many views by existing and new planting. We have produced a number of photomontages which show ‘before and after’ from a number of local viewpoints so that you can see what it would look like. These are available on our website – www.bdronline.co.uk – or can be obtained by contacting Green Issues Communiqué on 020 7457 2833 or at bdr@greenissuescommunique.com.
We welcome suggestions that the facility could be used to provide education about how to reduce household waste. We intend to create a ‘visitors centre’ as part of the development which can be used for visits by local residents. We would welcome suggestions as to how best to raise awareness of this facility.
Five people felt that the facility would best be located elsewhere. It is worth pointing out that this site and others were all considered through the three authorities’ local development framework and have been subject to significant levels of discussion and consultation over the past few years. The Bolton Road site is one of four sites that are proposed for large scale waste management use in the boroughs and the reasons for choosing Bolton Road are laid out in detail in the Environmental Statement.
3. Next Steps
3SE intends to submit the planning application for this site in Autumn 2011. The responses to the comments made are set out in the previous section but we appreciate that there needs to be ongoing dialogue with local residents and their elected representatives throughout the planning process.
Dialogue will be maintained with those who expressed an interest in joining the proposed Community Liaison Group. We will also ensure that channels of communications remain open with councillors at borough and parish level.