Otterpool site should be cleared of pollutants - communication with DEFRA

From: Mavis Turton <mavis.turton@btinternet.com> Subject: Re: Attachment to Defra Email To: " Anthony (SEG)Griffiths" <Anthony.Griffiths@defra.gsi.gov.uk> Date: Thursday, 26 May, 2011, 15:11 Dear Mr Griffiths, Thank you for your e mail and attachments. I have read through the information carefully, and I would like to point out something important The report says that the site should be cleared of contaminants associated with the previous use  of the site, namely quarrying.  It does not seem to require Countrystyle to remove pollutants which were dumped there since , which have no association with quarrying, namely that the site was used to dump considerable amounts of waste diesel and creosote, and that this was not discovered by the Sellindge Residents' Association until some hours before planning was granted.  The Chairman of the Sellindge Residents' Association Ronald Lello, was shown onto the site by someone who knew about this dumping, and in Mr Lello's words, "A handful of soil from the surface still had the smell of diesel."  This, even though the site has not been used for any other purpose for many years.  It seems to demonstrate the level of contamination. A friend of mine had a visit from the Environment Department when a farmer noticed a smell of home heating fuel in a field at the back of her house, and she was told that if the fuel had leaked from her oil tank, she would have to pay the cost of removal of the contaminated soil, and the cleaning of it.  Fortunately, it was not her tank which was faulty. I think that now the oil dumping at the Otterpool Quarry,  which appears to be considerable, has been discovered, it should be Countrystyle's responsibility to completely remove the contaminated soil, and have it cleaned, at their expense, and well before work on the site has begun.  I am sure you would agree.  There did not seem to be any importance placed on this at the KCC meeting. I do hope, most sincerely, that you will enforce this rule, which should apply not only to private individuals, but to businesses which must be held responsible as well. I really do not think that KCC is aware of the level of contamination, as I understand they only visited to site once, and briefly. Could you tell me how I can make sure that  all the authorities involved in granting the necessary permits to begin construction have proof that the contaminated soil has been removed and cleaned up. Thank you once again for your help, it is very much appreciated. Kindest regards, Mavis Turton --- On Thu, 26/5/11, Griffiths, Anthony (SEG) <Anthony.Griffiths@defra.gsi.gov.uk> wrote: From: Griffiths, Anthony (SEG) <Anthony.Griffiths@defra.gsi.gov.uk> Subject: Attachment to Defra Email To: mavis.turton@btinternet.com Date: Thursday, 26 May, 2011, 9:27 Dear Ms Turton, Apologies – the attached planning note should have accompanied my email to you yesterday afternoon.   Best regards, Anthony Griffiths  Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) This email and any attachments is intended for the named recipient only. If you have received it in error you have no authority to use, disclose, store or copy any of its contents and you should destroy it and inform the sender. Whilst this email and associated attachments will have been checked<br>for known viruses whilst within Defra systems we can accept no responsibility once it has left our systems. Communications on Defra's computer systems may be monitored and/or recorded to secure the effective operation of the system and for other lawful purposes.

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From: ccu.correspondence@defra.gsi.gov.uk <ccu.correspondence@defra.gsi.gov.uk> Subject: Response to your Query : - Ref:DWOE000231045 - Response to your Follow-up Email To: mavis.turton@btinternet.com Date: Wednesday, 25 May, 2011, 17:36 Dear Mrs Turton, Thank you for your follow-up email of 10 May about the proposed Recycling Facility and Anaerobic Digestion Plant at Otterpool Quarry, Sellinge, Ashford, Kent. We are very aware of the concerns amongst the local community. Over the past year, the Environment Agency (EA) has spoken and met with the Sellinge Residents Association, Kent County Council (KCC) and Countrystyle Waste Management Limited in connection with the planning application. As a statutory consultee, the EA worked closely with KCC, who determined the planning application. At the request of KCC, the EA reviewed technical evidence on potential environmental impacts submitted from both Countrystyle (the applicant) and the Sellinge Residents Association. KCC granted planning permission on 28/03/11, with the proviso that a number of planning conditions will have to be met by the operator. All the conditions requested by the EA to safeguard the environment were included, which covered remediation of potential land contamination, surface water management and flood risk. More information on the planning decision can be found in the attached PDF document. The EA has not received an application for an Environmental Permit. Countrystyle Waste Management Limited fully understands that it needs an Environmental Permit before any operational activity can begin at Otterpool Quarry. The EA fully reviews an Environmental Permit application and does not issue a permit unless the proposed activity provides adequate protection for the environment and people's health. The application requires in depth detail of the infrastructure, the activity and its management systems. On receipt of a Permit application, the EA carries out a public consultation. Its Public Participation statement can be found at: www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/library/consultations/80798.aspx.  The EA remains committed to be open and transparent with any decisions it makes throughout the permit consultation process. I hope you find this information helps to address your concerns. Yours sincerely, Anthony Griffiths Customer Contact Unit Defra Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) This email and any attachments is intended for the named recipient only. If you have received it in error you have no authority to use, disclose, store or copy any of its contents and you should destroy it and inform the sender. Whilst this email and associated attachments will have been checked<br>for known viruses whilst within Defra systems we can accept no responsibility once it has left our systems. Communications on Defra's computer systems may be monitored and/or recorded to secure the effective operation of the system and for other lawful purposes.