12-May-2006 - Government
Minister Ben Bradshaw is in Devon today (Friday
May 12) visiting the multi-million pound Princesshay
complex in Exeter where the Environment Agency
has been working with developers on a major re-cycling
initiative.
Mr Bradshaw, Parliamentary Secretary
at Defra, will start his whistle-stop tour with
a visit to the Agency’s Devon Area Office at Exminster
to attend a briefing session on waste regulation
and enforcement.
Agency projects highlighted
during the session will include an investigation
into a major illegal waste site in the Teign Valley
and a recent ‘Spy in the Sky’ aerial survey of
illegal waste sites across Devon. There will also
be an overview of the Agency’s national waste
strategy.
The visit to Princesshay, a
£175 million new shopping and housing development
currently under construction in the centre of
Exeter, will take place this afternoon when the
Minister will be available for a photo opportunity
and interviews. Call press office 01392 442008
for times.
The prestigious development
is an excellent example of waste minimisation
and recycling that will have seen a staggering
40,000 tonnes of demolition waste from the old
shopping centre re-used once project is complete.
Crushed concrete and brick is
broken up on the site using a crusher for re-use
as filler. Only 3,000 tonnes of the original demolition
waste has had to be taken away for recycling off
site.
Not only has the recycling saved
money, but also removed the need for an estimated
4,000 lorry movements reducing the environmental
impact of exhaust emissions, noise and congestion.
The successful re-use of materials
has been made possible thanks to the good working
relationship between the Environment Agency, Wring
Group Demolition and Exeter City Council. Heading
up the re-development is the construction company,
Robert McAlpine.
The new complex, which is scheduled
to open in autumn 2007, will include 60 shops
and 119 residential units.
‘Waste is one of the most important
environmental problems that the Environment Agency
is tackling in the South West. Most of our waste
still goes to landfill wasting valuable resources
and waste crime is a growing problem. We are delighted
to host Mr Bradshaw’s visit to explain our role
in reducing the impact on the environment,’ said
Martin Weiler, Devon Area Manager for the Environment
Agency.
