The Environment Agency
yesterday (Monday,
September 27) granted an environmental permit
for a proposed new waste plant at Ardley
Quarry in Oxfordshire.
In early 2009, Viridor
Waste Management Limited applied for a permit
under the Environmental Permitting (England
and Wales) Regulations 2007 to operate an
energy from waste plant at Ardley Quarry
in Oxfordshire.
The Environment Agency
consulted widely on the details of the application
and sought comments from other organisations,
including Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust
and Oxfordshire County Council. The Environment
Agency also sought the views of members
of the public on the proposals.
After a detailed assessment
of the application, and considering a number
of consultation responses from members of
the public and key consultees, the Environment
Agency has now decided to grant an Environmental
Permit for this proposed plant.
Regardless of this decision,
a plant at Ardley cannot be built unless
planning permission in obtained from Oxfordshire
County Council.
Matt Carter, area manager
at the Environment Agency, said: “We have
carried out a thorough assessment of this
application and taken into account all of
the comments received during extensive consultation.
“In granting this permit
we are satisfied that the plant can be built
and operated in a manner that does not pose
a significant risk to the environment or
public health. We will make sure that any
plant that is built will meet high environmental
standards and will be operated safely.
“We have involved local
people and the wider public throughout the
permitting process and we will continue
to do this throughout our future regulation
of the plant if and when it is built.”
A copy of the environmental permit and a
decision document outlining how the Environment
Agency has reached its decision will be
available on public registers at the following
locations.
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Environment Agency plans
improved flood defences for Shoreham
The Environment Agency,
in partnership with Worthing and Adur councils,
is proposing to rebuild flood defences to
protect properties in Shoreham and Lancing
from flooding.
The land protected by
the flood defences along the West Bank of
the River Adur estuary between the coast
and the A27 is low lying and at risk of
extensive tidal flooding if the defences
are not improved.
Over 3,000 properties
on Shoreham Beach and in Lancing are at
risk from a “1 in 200” year tidal flood
(the theoretical worst flood expected in
a 200 year period). The A259, Shoreham Airport
and many local businesses would also be
severely affected.
The Environment Agency,
in partnership with Worthing and Adur councils
is proposing to rebuild many of these defences
to reduce the risk of flooding. Over the
past year officers have met with local landowners
and businesses to discuss how these defences
can be raised to the required height. This
work has allowed us to draft a preferred
option.
The Environment Agency
will be present details of this option at
two public exhibitions:
• Adur Civic Centre
Foyer, Ham Road, BN43 6PR, 7 to 8 October
2010 10am to 5pm
• Shoreham Farmers Market, East Street,
BN43 5ZD, 9 October 2010, 9am to 1pm
The exhibitions are
an opportunity for the local residents to
view the plans and have their say.
Simon Moody, Environment
Agency Area Manager, said: “We are pleased
to be working in partnership with Worthing
and Adur to help protect communities at
risk. Local knowledge and input is important
in developing our flood defence schemes,
and we invite the local community to take
a look at our plans and let us know what
they think.”
The plans are available
on the organisation’s website www.environment-agency.gov.uk/ShorehamWestBank
