The site is planned to be built slap bang in the centre of the major East Durham aquifer, which supplies many thousands of homes with drinking water. County Durham’s own waste plan states...
“Waste sites can be lined and surfaces capped with impermeable material to reduce the risk of pollution. However, even with the best available engineering measures, it is impossible to eliminate risk of contamination”
The Environment Agency also states that it will object to sites on or in a major aquifer, especially if long term site management is essential. The land is also prone to subsidence over a sustained period of time. This is due to previous coal mining activity. This could damage any lining that may be used.
Developing landfill on agricultural land should only be permitted where there are no suitable alternative sites and it is therefore unavoidable. Before any decision to permit a development is made they should seek advice from DEFRA. If the land is of poor agricultural quality, 20 years of landfill would not be the quickest or most effective method of soil improvement.
Despite Premier Waste making provision to use the popular public footpath, the enjoyment and recreational value would be seriously undermined by the development. The nearby nature reserve, Wingate Quarry, has received funding from English Nature for habitat restoration work. It is also part of the MAGical Meadows Project, which aims to restore magnesium limestone grassland. Magnesian limestone grassland supports 13 nationally scarce plants and 84 nationally scarce invertebrates. These could be under threat is plans go ahead.
The impact on the local road network will be considerable. There is no nearby rail links, which would be a preferred option for moving waste. The extremely close location of the site to residential areas will maximise the impact to residents. Wingate is already used as a “rat run” by heavy goods vehicles wishing to avoid the weigh in station at the top of the village, just off the A19. The pollution produced by even more heavy goods vehicles on the doorstep of local villages should be avoided.
The road into the site will come off the A181, which is a fast moving and dangerous road. Premier Waste say all vehicles leaving the site will turn left and drive all down to the roundabout in order to turn right! I doubt whether this will be the case and I expect we will see slow moving lorries making dangerous right turns accross the oncoming traffic.
The use of the landfill tax credit can be a valuable source of funding for improving the area after the landfill site closes. Sites such as old mining works, derelict land or industrial areas could benefit from the regeneration efforts after landfilling. These sort of areas would also have the least impact on the local population and the environment. There is little opportunity for improvement to the landscape in this case as it is picturesque farmland which forms a valuable source of recreation and aesthetic value for local communities.
Based on 1995 house price data, a house that was situated within 0.25 miles of an operational landfill site had a reduced average valuation of £5,500 from an identical property elsewhere. Similarly, a property lying between 0.25 and 0.5 miles from the same landfill site saw an average reduced valuation of £1,600!*
If we update these figures with the rise in house prices, the values increase to £16,500 and £4,800 respectively!**
Premier Waste argue that the disamenity costs for the north east are well below the national average. This was true in the 2001 report when house prices and buying trends were well below the national average. Since then, however, house prices and sales have seen record increases bringing the area into line with national average.
*Source: Defra: A study to estimate the disamenity costs of landfill in Great Britain.
The North East has the largest number of landfill sites in the country. More waste is deposited in County Durham than any other area in the North East, more than three times that of Northumberland. From 2000-2001 nearly 2.2 million tonnes of waste was dumped in County Durham, almost double that of in 1998-1999.* Even before this massive increase over one third of waste dumped in County Durham was imported waste. One can only assume that we now import more waste than we produce.
In 2001 Durham County had 8.7 years of life expectancy remaining in existing sites and had more voidspace than any other county in the North East.*
*Source: Environment Agency Report 2001
Premier Waste Management Ltd is owned by Durham County Waste Management Ltd whose ultimate parent and controlling party is Durham County Council, who in turn are responsible for passing the planning application itself!*
They also suplied a wide and varied range of comments and objections to the counties Local Waste Plan which is worth viewing. One worrying objection was "Whether environmental protection is appropriate as an overarching issue." This from a company who say environmental protection is at the heart of their operations!
*Source: Annual Returns from Companies House
Premier Waste withdraw their application!
Despite the Environment Agency objection Premier Waste refuse to withdraw their application!
The Environment Agency have released a press statement which spells good news for the people of Wingate, Trimdon & Wheatley Hill.
CAMPAIGNERS against plans to turn farmland into a massive rubbish dump have taken their protest to planning chiefs.
Easington Primary Care Trust received £43.5 million in order to takle the local areas very poor health record. The disturbing statistics include lung cancer rates which are twice the national average.
more to come
With so much happening at HelpStopIt we have had to expand the website to accomodate more information.
Anglian Water, which supplies Hartlepool's drinking water, has voiced concerns over plans by Premier Waste Management to bury tonnes of rubbish on the outskirts of Wingate.
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