Agenda item

This application will consider details of a Dust and Odour Management Plan, submitted pursuant to Condition 36 of planning permission SP13/01553/SCC dated 25 September 2014.

An update sheet was tabled and is attached as Annex 1 to the Minutes.

Officers:

Alan Stones, Planning Development Control Team Manager

Nancy el-Shatoury, Principal Lawyer

Caroline Smith, Transport Development Planning Team Manager

Stephen Jenkins, Deputy Planning Development Manager

Mark O’Hare, Senior Planning Officer Development Control

William Flaherty, Planning Officer (Eco Park)

Speakers:

Malcolm Robertson, a local resident, made representations in objection to the application.  The following points were made:

·         Methane and carbon dioxide would be produced from decomposing food.  Application should be rejected on the grounds of human health being endangered

·         The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) warns of flammability from bio gas and dangers of being exposed to this.  Exposure can cause death and living near is cause for concern.

Karen Howkins decided not to speak on this item.

Peter Francis, a local resident, made representations  in objection to the application.  The following points were made:

·         At Anaerobic Digestion Plants there had been more pollution incidences then at any other type of waste plants, 21 out of 100 occurrences.

·         In other areas residents confirmed there was a smell from 750 meters away from the Eco Park.

Gareth Philips of SITA, spoke in response to the objectors as the applicant.  The following points were made:

·         The points raised are specifically covered by the Environmental Permit which the EA regulates.

·         The EA hold the power to shut the Eco Park if there is an odour

·         The application is for an updated dust and odour management plan.  The original plan was agreed in 2013.

Key points raised during the discussion:

1.    The Planning Development Control Team Manager introduced the report and reiterated that local planning authorities should assume that the pollution control regime would operate effectively, that approach had been confirmed recently within a judicial review.  It was added that there was a monitoring log on site and general reporting, breaches would result in closure.

2.    A Member stated that this item had partly been covered within item 3; he explained that wind direction from the site would be taken to Halliford and control on casual emissions would be required.

3.    The Committee asked what measures were in place to ensure vehicles were sheeted and closed, it was also queried how hydrogen oxide levels would be monitored.  Officers responded that these aspects were all under the remit of the EA permit and were required to be adhered to.

4.    The Committee again queried the timing of the baseline survey dust and of air quality.

Actions/Further information to be provided:

None.

RESOLVED:

·         The Committee resolved to APPROVE the details a dust and odour management plan for the reasons set out in the report.  (Version 4.1 dated February 2014, as amended by an email dated 25 February 2015 from SITA Surrey Ltd), pursuant to Condition 36 of planning permission ref: SP13/01553 dated 25 September 2014, contained in application ref SP13/01553/DC3.

·         Subject to the addition of a fourth informative:  It is recommended that baseline, pre-construction dust monitoring is carried out at the appropriate monitoring locations to determine current dust levels to allow the contribution of construction dust to the future total dust levels at these locations to be determined. This monitoring, which could be continuous or samples, should provide the baseline, representative dust level at each location for the periods when permitted construction activities will be occurring. Officers advised that Informative 4, attached to Item 5, is relevant to the CEMP as it is in relation to pre-construction dust monitoring.