Press release: Public consultation for Rivenhall incinerator

Two drop-in sessions are being held in Coggeshall and Silver End to explain and discuss a proposal for an Integrated Waste Management Facility on the former Rivenhall Airfield site in Essex.

Following the Environment Agency’s decision in December 2016 to refuse Gent Fairhead & Co. Ltd’s application for an Environmental Permit to operate the facility, they have submitted a new application.

Environment Agency staff will be at public drop-ins to discuss the proposals with people and explain their role in permitting and regulating this type of facility. The sessions are:

Monday 20 March, 2pm to 7pm, Silver End Village Hall, Broadway, Silver End CM8 3RQ

Friday 31 March, 2pm to 7pm, Christ Church, Stoneham Street, Coggeshall CO6 1UH

They will explain what will happen and how people can be involved during the consultation and decision-making process. Officers from Essex County Council will also be on hand to answer planning-related questions.

An Environmental Permit from the Environment Agency needs to be in place before the plant can start operating. Environmental Permits contain specific conditions and emission limits that must be complied with while the plant is operating.

The Environment Agency’s role is to consider the environmental impacts the plant could have on human health, air, water, land, habitats and species of animals and plants. It also looks at noise levels, energy efficiency and the sustainability of the plant.

The first application was refused last year because the company had failed to demonstrate that the design of the waste plant would use Best Available Techniques (BAT) to reduce emissions and their impact on the environment. In particular, the company failed to demonstrate that the proposed incinerator stack height was BAT.

Frank Saunders, Team Leader at the Environment Agency said:

Gent Fairhead & Co. Ltd’s revised proposals include a change to the height of the incinerator stack. We encourage local people to come to the drop-ins to find out more about the latest proposals. We’d like to hear their thoughts and concerns to make sure we consider local representations in our decision making process.

The consultation period on this permit application started on 9 March and closes on 13 April 2017.

At the drop-ins people will be able to see the full application and make comments on it.

Further copies of the application (EPR/FP3335YU/A001) will be available at the Environment Agency offices, Threshelfords Business Park, Inworth Road, Kelvedon CO5 9SE, as well as the public libraries in Coggeshall and Kelvedon.

It is also available on GOV.UK:here

Comments on the permit application should be sent to the Environment Agency’s National Permitting Service in Sheffield at either the postal or email address below, or submitted online here

Environment Agency, Permitting and Support Centre, Land Team, Quadrant 2, 99 Parkway Avenue
Sheffield S9 4WF

Or by email: pscpublicresponse@environment-agency.gov.uk