Sandhoe Communty spearheads action - again! |
| Posted by Administrator (admin) on Jan 07 2008 at 12:15 pm |
| News items from Sandhoe >> PC News |
The following questions have been submitted to Egger for a response through the liaison group which will meet on 10 January 2008.
Sandhoe Residents' concerns - for discussion at the Parish Council liaison group meeting on 10 January 2008.
The following are the questions that members of the Sandhoe Community want the Parish Council to ask Egger at the liaison group meeting which is to take place on 10th January 2008. We also ask that our earlier request for representation on the liaison group and for more frequent meetings to be scheduled is tabled at the meeting with Egger and given serious consideration. This request was made as a result of a public meeting held in Anick at which the unanimous view of residents was that the composition of the liaison group does not properly reflect those people who are directly affected by the issues under discussion. We understand from your reply to this request that the PC chairman has agreed to ask this question.
1. The Sandhoe Community is concerned that reporting progress via a quarterly meeting with another organisation is not satisfactory. Additionally, we would like to suggest that Egger considers posting regular and frequent updates on a page of the Egger web site. Alternatively, the company might wish to invite concerned neighbours to receive an emailed newsletter. Either of these options would provide up to date information and give the company an opportunity to regain some PR credibility with its neighbours. We would also ask that the company considers seriously the Sandhoe Community's request being made via the Parish Council, (see above), for increased representation on the liaison group - What steps will Egger take to improve their communication with residents about any progress in either addressing the residents' concerns or their compliance with the Operating Permit?
2. The Sandhoe Community recognises that steps have been taken to eliminate some sources of noise arising from the operation of the new plant during the commissioning phase and is grateful that some of these improvements have made a difference - Now that the plant is commissioned, what urgent steps are being taken to reduce and ultimately eliminate the constant banging and crashing from the external log-handling processes that has been a night-time problem for the last six months - and by what date is a solution likely to be implemented?
3. It is considered that the overall level of production noise from the plant is still unreasonably high and continues to exceed the levels set by Tynedale Council. In recent weeks, some residents have noticed a change in the pitch of this noise - it has been described as changing from a "hum" to a "whine" but is still loud at times and intrusive. What steps are being taken to eliminate this source of noise or to at least reduce it to an acceptable level?
4. Dust (Air pollution) There is a significant problem caused by sawdust. This is experienced by businesses in the immediate area and by residents in parts of Oakwood. We believe that a considerable amount of dust is contained within the piles of hack chips. This is evidenced by observation of the site on windy days and by the fact that there is so much that it has to be separated out during the process and carried on a dedicated conveyor to the oven. It is this loose dust which is blown about in windy conditions. The community is aware that outside storage of the chips is permitted within the plan, and nobody is objecting to that. The objection is to the fact that there is a very considerable volume of dust harboured within the chips, which is causing a continual nuisance. A recent survey of businesses in the locality confirmed that the problem still exists and is a general nuisance. Please confirm that you are aware of this problem and are taking steps to eliminate the dust prior to storage on the site.
5. Obsolete production buildings. As a result of pressure from the Sandhoe Community, the Parish Council has recently acknowledged the serious effect of this development in the parish on its residents and the Sandhoe Community hopes that the Parish Council will use its privileged position to ensure the community are not given any more nasty surprises. As an elected body, the Parish Council's duty on behalf of the residents is to take what action is necessary to ensure they are fully informed about future plans including details such as additional pollution factors and the recognition (if new or additional manufacturing processes are planned to add value to the current product range) that there will be an increase in traffic density. This information and the Parish Council's interpretation of the subsequent impact on the community must be shared with residents so that appropriate action can be taken when required - What proposals are being made for the future of the vacated buildings? Are further manufacturing processes, which add value to the core products being planned? What impact will this have on a) the manufacturing output of the core products (ie will production of core products be increased?), b) the traffic patterns to and from the plant and c) the overall levels of noise and pollution from the site as a whole?
6. A footpath has been cleared (and illuminated) within the Egger boundary on the south side of Anick Road. In the absence of any other safe pedestrian arrangements on that section of the road, would the company be prepared to respond to Councillor Mrs Elaine Rodger's suggestion that use of the path could be extended to the public?
7. During a conversation between Egger senior management and a member of the Sandhoe Community at the beginning of December, Simon Dotlinger admitted that a noise-reducing door had been left open overnight causing considerable disruption from the Hombach process to residents - What steps are being taken to ensure that this incident is not repeated?
In the same discussion Simon Dotlinger explained that during the external log handling process the tractor driver lifts a bundle of logs and shakes them to remove stones (which can wreck the cutting blades on the chipping machine, which in turn take two hours to replace) before loading the logs. Sometimes a log drops and this may cause some banging noise that we hear. The Hombach uses heavy weights to hold down the logs as they are conveyed into the machine. When there are different sized logs this can result in weights falling noisily.
It is worth pointing out that Sandhoe residents identified this process as the main source of disturbance to many residents during the day and particularly at night, some 5 or 6 months ago and little appears to have been done to reduce it. Mr Dotlinger's explanation of the log handling process is a pale reflection of reality. Simon Dotlinger explained that "Egger do not wish to make residents' lives miserable" and are taking the following actions:
7a. He stated that they would try to avoid this operation at night - there has been no evidence of any reduction in the noises produced by this activity (as at January 5th) - has a schedule of reduced night-time working been agreed and if so when will it be implemented?
7b. Another silo to store Hombach woodchips is being brought into commission so that more can be prepared during the day - there is no evidence that an additional silo is being used. Is this an additional silo (not yet built and requiring statutory permissions) or an old silo elsewhere on the site?
7c. The plastic curtains around the process are to be extended - when will this happen and what to what degree will this be effective?
7d. Other acoustic treatments are to be installed - what does this mean?
8. Simon Dotlinger stated that they would like to install an automatic log handling machine, which should reduce the noise and reduce the blade-blunting problem because logs would be debarked before going into the machine. But this would be costly and would result in one job redundancy, so they are still considering. If this course of action would enable Egger to manufacture within the noise levels permitted by their approvals it should be implemented immediately. Natural manpower wastages will easily offset the redundancy problem.
9. Simon Dotlinger also stated that the plant was built very quickly and as a result there are numerous teething and design problems. Why were these not dealt with properly during the commissioning phase?
10. Some residents, during the last three nights have been bothered by vehicle reversing alarms at night once again. The following message has been sent by one resident and the same concern echoed by another today.
Vehicle reversing alarms are once again being used at night (Friday 4, Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 January). This is expressly forbidden in the planning conditions and we were assured that Egger had taken steps to avoid this. Why is it recurring and does Egger realise the adverse effect this kind of backsliding has on residents' lives and on trust in the firm's commitments to be "a good neighbour"?
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