(Scroll down for update 6th September 2005)
Copy of letter to Mr Clive Dalton from Ms Anne Rutland published as a public document by the Eversdens Parish Council
Re: The Barrington Liaison Group Meeting 12th July 2005
Dear Clive
To keep you up to date - I'm not sure when the next PC meeting is.
I went to the Barrington Liaison Meeting last night. It was pretty well
attended and had a long agenda (and took more than 2 1/2 hours!)
incorporating presentations from the Environment Agency, CCC and Barrington
people. My view of what occurred (not in order):
The EA presented about changed procedures under the Substitute Fuels
Protocol. Basically it is now believed that they have a lot more knowledge
about substitute fuels and that therefore some of the earlier limitations
they imposed have now been relaxed. There are also some issues coming from
European case law making it desirable. Essentially it is now acceptable to
utilise a range of fuels (wider range of calorific values) and if a new
process (different source of fuel, different ratios etc) is trialled under
the regulations, provided all the critical success factors (predetermined by
application and agreement between organisation and EA) are met, the
organisation can continue the new process straight from commissioning trial.
All the consultation procedures (pre-application and standard
post-application) remain. All environment standards (pollution controls)
remain.
Cambridgeshire County Council presented on the 'Minerals and Waste
Development Plan' for Cambridgeshire & Peterborough. I assume you have seen
this already since Parish Councils were circulated. The relevance last night
was that Barrington is the only cement works in the area. It was noted that
a large amount of material remains at Barrington works for quarrying and
onward processing - a map of the outlined potential quarry was circulated.
It was reminded that the initial consultation was ending shortly - comment
wanted within the week, I think (but can still be sent later if they are
advised it will be late).
The usual monitoring results for the last 6 months were presented. Use of
SLF dipped in the middle of the period, due to unavailability of SLF (the
supplier is also supplying another plant) from a high in Jan and June (both
around 25% of fuel usage). Emissions were generally well within limits with
some breaches (Schedule 1) - particulates (due to power failures at
electrostatic precipitator - now believed fixed; and a power failure in
pre-processing). There was also a TOC breach - I didn't quite catch the
reason, but probably due to instrument failure (i.e. maybe it wasn't a
breach). There was an HCl breach due to another power failure giving a wrong
process feed and resulting in a high temperature in the kiln.
There has been a permit variation (applied for in January and issued in
May), still subject to approval by Cemex. This allows a relaxation in the
range of calorific values (lower and higher). Various changes in elements in
the emissions but no overall relaxation. This raised quite a lot of
questions from the floor.
Barrington is now part of Cemex, who are a professional respected
international (Mexican based) cement company, we were told. We were promised
some 'Mexicans' for a future meeting. The takeover was completed in March (3
months later than expected). There will be redundancies about 700 of the
7000 RMC employees in the UK (1200 overall in cement). The delay has delayed
some capital expenditure plans.
The best was saved till last. As part of business development there is a
major feasibility study (presented by Bob Millard, who is part of [heading?]
the team). They are some way down the road (I think it was given a push
after the takeover was completed). Barrington has plant and process that is
now outdated and reaching the end of its life. It also has good remaining
resources to quarry and produces a good quality product. So it seems the
right time to consider a major upgrade. (This fits with the resource map in
the CCC Minerals and Waste Development Plan). Of the options considered, the
team currently favour a plan that would build a new dry process (current
process is wet) on a new location within the site. This means no
interruption to production while building. They want to minimise visual
impact, but need good geotechnics and will need infrastructure
(transportation and access).
The favoured option is to be brought out to public consultation as soon as
possible. They will launch a website with info and will present and display
to local groups, villages, authorities, people as part of the consultation.
(If you want them at a Parish Council Meeting etc, ask). The pre-application
consultation will take place from now to end August. Once they apply they
will have to consult wider as part of the process. There will be an
extraordinary meeting of the liaison committee on Thursday 18th August as
part of the pre-application consultation. I'm away, but will ask Steve
Salisbury to go. They hope to put in a planning application in September
2005. The next stage might take some time [1 year was suggested from CCC
representatives present].
The preferred option is still to be finalised, but is looking like a
construction to be built in the east side of the old quarry workings (on the
area where a clay layer still remains - the other option they had in the
deepest part of the excavation leaves only sand to build on, but that looks
inadequate). It would be located about half way between Haslingfield and
Barrington. The works would consist of a large pre-heater and associate
chimney, moving to a short kiln and cooling before converting clinker to
cement. There would be upgrading to the quarry process and pre-processing of
feed. The 3 or 4 stage preheater would be a very tall (~130m) construction
maybe twice the height of the current chimney (60+m) and the new chimney
would be slightly taller. The quarry would be extended westward along the
hillside as needed. It would be landscaped to have minimal visual impact and
the application will include plans for restoration after extraction. [Some
discussion took place from the floor here about needs for the footpaths -
and welcomed by presenter]. The other issue is transport infrastructure. The
rail link will remain, but a new road link is required. The current
preferred scenario is to link directly out on to the A603 - details to be
fixed. [The lie of the land would suggest a junction at the top of the Mare
Way, but this would not pass planning. A603 is believed more possible than a
link to the A10].
This is a link (you need it all as one) to the kind of works building (my
initiative);
http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.rugbyinplume.org/assets/
images/p1-chim2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.rugbyinplume.org/body_index.html&h=
423&w=300&sz=15&tbnid=E9vZnaX-NusJ:&tbnh=122&tbnw=86&hl=en&start=4&prev=/ima
ges%3Fq%3Drugby%2Bcement%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D
(or go to google, images, and search on 'rugby cement works').
Anne
UPDATE REPORT OF LIAISON MEETING 6th September 2005
BARRINGTON
CEMENT WORKS
There are plans to build a new plant
at the cement works which will have a great impact on nearby villages. Anne
Rutland attended a meeting of the Barrington Liaison Group in early September
and has given many reasons why residents of the Eversdens should be concerned
about the proposals and the issues raised.
1.
The visual impact of the new plant: In particular, the
proposed pre-heater tower is expected to be l32m high. The current chimney is
60m and the new tower will have a much wider profile.
2.
A new road access for the factory is planned to be at a point some way
down the hill between Harlton and Eversden on the A603. The style of this
junction is still under discussion.
3.
There will be increased lorry movements to and from the factory: The plan
will produce 150 loaded lorries leaving per day, concentrated within a 16 hour
`daytime` window. To correspond with this there will need to be 150 empty lorry
returns. In addition to lorries carying cement there will also be lorries
carrying secondary fuels (SLF, as at present, but other secondary fuels
mentioned such as ‘climafuel’ (packaging waste) and treated municipal
waste). These may represent large volumes. Most cement lorries will be heading
towards Barton and the M11.
4.
Possible effects on the water table are currently
thought unlikely. The current process used is `wet` and Cemex pump a great deal
of water for this. The new process is `dry` and will not need the water.
5.
There are environmental issues in general relating to
the quarrying. This plan covers the next 40 years and is for extraction and
restoration. Footpaths will need to be diverted and repositioned after
quarrying.
Actions
relating to the plan which Eversden residents may wish to note:
1.
Cemex will be launching a website to keep people
informed, address to be notified but presumably on www.cemex.co.uk
or www.cemex.com ; there is also an info
line on 0845 262 0278 which has been tested and works.
2.
They plan to distribute a newsletter mail shot around
local villages giving a summary of the proposals expected. A request has been
issued by the Parish Council that the Eversdens should be included on
circulation list.
3.
They also plan a `road show` with a trailer visiting
local villages to allow residents access to more details and a chance to speak
to team members. The date stated for this in the Eversdens is Thursday 20th
October 2005 at the Recreation Ground between 15.00 hrs and 20.00 hrs. They plan
to provide visual projections from various locations of what the new plant would
look like.
4.
Briefings will be available for Parish Councils;
elected local bodies and members; and for other stakeholders.
5.
Site visits will be arranged where appropriate both to
Barrington and other comparable UK developments.
Timelines:
CLIVE DALTON