Dear Niall,
The main reason we are so concerned is that it was not known until a few hours before the application was passed, that there was so much contamination.
KCC did not seem to be able to answer technical questions put by our surveyor, so it might be that they do not have the necessary expertise themselves, and that is why I hoped that you yourselves might get involved.
I am afraid I do not have any trust in Countrystyle, who told us that we would have to go to the Outer Hebrides to see such a plant in operation, and I do not believe this to be true, Greenfinch operate sites much nearer. You will understand that I fear that the clean up will not be properly done, because of the costs involved. As I used to work in a large London building company, in the Estimating Department, I would have thought that Countrystyle could have shown you the cost item for the clean up their Bills of Quantities.
Kind regards,
Mavis
Dear Ms. Turton
Thank you for your email dated 6 June 2011, I’m sorry that due to illness I haven’t been able to reply to you sooner.
I appreciate your concern for the environment at Otterpool. We are aware of the reports that diesel and creosote were dumped on this site some time ago and understand the potential risk that this poses to the environment.
Kent County Council (KCC) decide whether a site is appropriate for a given development and whether a developer, in this case Countrystyle, is granted planning permission. We support them by offering technical advice on the environmental impact of a new proposal and the safeguards required to protect the environment.
KCC are addressing the potential risks posed to the environment from the development at Otterpool through a series of conditions on the planning permission. They are responsible for ensuring these conditions are met.
The conditions associated with potential contamination are detailed in Section 14 to 17 of the decision notice. To meet these conditions Countrystyle, the developer must provide evidence to KCC that they have correctly investigated the site, assessed the risk from all potential sources of contamination and undertaken appropriate clean up work.
To help decide whether these conditions have been met, KCC will seek our technical opinion on how Countrystyle have carried out all these steps in dealing with contamination and, specifically, if they correctly manage risks to groundwater. Their own environmental health officers will advise on risks to human health and property.
I hope this helps to explain how the Environment Agency will be involved in the work at this site. If you wish to see information about how these risks are being managed you will find copies of all of the reports on KCC’s public register.
Kind Regards
Niall Connolly
Planning Liaison Officer
01732 223 111
Environment Agency, Orchard House, Endeavour Park, London Road, Addington, Kent ME19 5SH
From: Mavis Turton [mailto:mavis.turton@btinternet.com]
Sent: 06 June 2011 14:31
To: Connolly, Niall
Subject: RE: Otterpool
Dear Niall,
I thought you might like to know that a delegation from The Sellindge Residents' Association were invited to a meeting with Kent County Council's Planning Officers last week, and Mr Les Barratt, who is a qualified surveyor on our team, reported that there did not appear to be anyone representative of KCC who had any technical expertise.
I am very worried about how the developer will be made to clean up contaminated soil at the Otterpool Quarry site, before construction commences. It is reported that subsequent to the quarrying work finishing, approximately 30,000 gallons of waste diesel and creosote were dumped at the site, this being several years ago. The soil still smells of it. It obviously contravenes everything DEFRA stands for, and I know that when a site is contaminated, or there is any overspill from the site into other land, the owner of the land has to pay for the taking away and cleaning up of the offending soil. It may be that the oil was dumped there illegally and without authorisation. My friend had the Environment Agency come to her house a while ago, (not near the Otterpool Quarry), because a farmer reported a smell of home heating fuel in his field. My friend was told that if her fuel tank had leaked, she would have to pay for the clean-up. Fortunately, it was not her tank causing the problem.
Reading the Environment Agency's permission for work to go ahead, it states that the developer, Countrystyle, has to clean up spoil relating to the previous use of the site, namely quarrying. It does not state that the developer has to completely clean the site of all contamination, from whatever source.
I personally do not trust the developer to do this, as at the first meeting they attended at the Village Hall, they stated that there were only two other such waste sites, one in the Outer Hebrides, and the other in Northern Europe somewhere. They really did not want us to be able to visit one of these facilities to see what was involved. Greenfinch, another company dealing with waste, has at least one other in Nottingham, which we would happily have gone to see.
I am very anxious that Defra and the Environment Agency should oversee the cleaning up properly. It appears that KCC is the one to enforce your rules, but I do not think they truly know how to monitor this. We really need someone from a government office to help us in this.
I would be very glad of your help and advice on this matter. The villagers are absolutely distraught that planning was granted, especially as there will be pollution from an extra 43,000 lorry movements per year through our village.
KCC lost us forty million pounds in investing in the Icelandic Bank fiasco, and they seem petrified of refusing any development plan which could go to appeal. Sharon Thompson, Head of Planning, stated that if the application was refused and went to appeal, it could cost KCC a "lot of money". Recently, they allowed a planning application to a company allowing it to quarry for stone in an ancient woodland. I doubt whether ANY application that could go to appeal will be refused, even though in our case, the Parish Council, the local District Council, the Kent County Councillor for Shepway, and our Member of Parliament, Folkestone Racecourse, and many other businesses objected to the waste facility being allowed. There was a petition signed by 96% of the local people as well.
This seems to me to breach our human rights, and any vestige of Democracy is thrown out of the window. It also seems very wrong that we, as a "third party" have no right of appeal.
I was very sad to see that a member of our Residents' Association has put their house up for sale, and we have considered doing likewise, after living here for forty six years. I myself have vowed never to vote again in any election, as it counts for nothing. I came to this decision after witnessing what went on at the metting at County Hall, when planning was passed for something nobody wanted, at least not in a village setting. At 73 years of age, I have voted in every election since I came of age.
With kindest regards,
Dear Ms Turton
Sorry to hear that! I'm sure it's fine to open, however if you have any difficulties just let me know
Kind Regards
Niall Connolly
From: Mavis Turton [mailto:mavis.turton@btinternet.com]
Sent: 12 May 2011 18:04
To: Connolly, Niall
Subject: Re: Otterpool
Click here to report this email as spam.
Dear Mr Connolly,
Thank you for your letter. However, as I was about to download it, a virus notice came up, so I was not prepared to open it.
I shall forward this to someone who may know how to avaid the virus detected notice, but if not, I hope I amy come back to you
Regards,
Dear Ms Turton
Further to your freedom of information request, please find attached correspondence on the Otterpool application.
Kind Regards
Niall Connolly
Planning Liaison Officer
01732 223 111
Environment Agency, Orchard House, Endeavour Park, London Road, Addington, Kent ME19 5SH
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