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Landfill site 'desperately needed'
A NEW landfill site is desperately needed to cope with West Sussex waste, according to Cory Environmental.
The waste management company has applied to dump 200,000 tonnes of waste each year into Laybrook Brickworks Quarry in Goose Green Lane, Thakeham, over a 21-year period from 2011.
However, the proposals have caused anger and dismay among residents across a wide area of the Horsham district which is set to be affected by the site.
This week Cory Environmental said it welcomed the opportunity to set out its plans for Laybrook and said it was very keen to work closely with the community.
Alistair Holl, director of resource management for Cory Environmental, said: "Our plans for Laybrook Brickworks Quarry have been put together after many years of detailed work with Ibstock Brick Ltd and we have been actively liaising with the local community for well over a year.
"We have undertaken a full Environmental Impact Assessment with detailed studies and assessments of all aspects of the plans and we have given thorough consideration to West Sussex County Council's waste plans."
Cory Environmental has argued there is a big shortage of sites to dispose of waste.
"We understand that two of the three existing landfills in the county will be full by 2013, with the third full by 2018," said Mr Holl.
"Even with the targeted increases in recycling rates and the emergence of other planned recycling facilities, by 2025 there will be a shortfall in West Sussex's required landfill capacity of over 5m tonnes. Laybrook could help to meet this shortfall."
According to Cory, the Thakeham site is perfect for a new dump because of its clay base and good connections to major link roads.
Laybrook Brickworks has been in use for over a century as a clay quarry to produce bricks.
If the go-ahead is given, Ibstock Brick Ltd, which currently uses the site, will continue there while waste is dumped in the unused parts of the quarry.
Cory Environmental said it understood residents had concerns about the smell from the site – particular as Thakeham has to put up with stink from Sussex Mushrooms.
However it has said it is very focused on reducing any emissions, particular as the landfill site will be regularly checked by the Environment Agency.
"Everybody involved in the operation is very clear that preventing a problem is much easier," said Phil Hopkins from the waste company.
"The issue with the mushroom farm if that was on our site the Environment Agency would have very quickly taken enforcement on that. We are a very closely regulated industry."
Mr Holl added: "We take our environmental responsibilities very seriously and our plans are to restore the site progressively in six separate phases to agricultural land, woodland and wetland with a specific bias towards nature conservation in the area.
"We would also be capturing the methane generated from the decomposition of the waste and using it to generate renewable electricity for export to the national grid."
Cory Environmental has said it is happy to organise a trip to its Bristol landfill site for anyone concerned to see how it works and talk to neighbours.
"It is a very similar set-up to here," said Chris Brown from Cory. "If there is a demand to do another visit we will.
"We were disappointed that more people did not want to go last time as we feel it would give them reassurance."
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Weather for Horsham
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Thunderstorm
Temperature: 14 C to 26 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
