Hesleden residents report additional incidents of dust from development site
Regular readers of these pages will be aware that the company currently removing spoil from the former pit heap in Hesleden has applied for a ten-year extension to their planning consent to enable the removal of minerals from the site.
Following public meetings held in Hesleden WMC earlier this year with residents, company representatives and planning officers I have stated my objection to this extension. Full background details can be found in the articles published on this site in February and March:
- Notification: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2022/02/hesleden-pit-heap-company-seeks-consent.html
- First public meeting: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2022/02/hesleden-pit-heap-planning-application.html
- Second public meeting: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2022/03/hesleden-residents-in-show-of-unity.html
One of our main objections is based on the unacceptable levels of noise and nuisance residents in the village have reported since works began on site almost five years ago. One of the main causes of nuisance is the frequent emission of dust reaching many parts of the village, particularly when the weather is dry and windy.
Earlier this week I spoke to a resident from Gray Avenue who told me about the persistent problems associated with dust, often meaning that cars and window ledges have to be cleaned almost daily. He reported that when the dust is especially bad some of the residents in the worst affected areas are forced to keep their windows closed to prevent dust particles entering their homes. Although this is an inconvenience there are wider concerns about the longer-term impact on public health of dust emissions from the site.
In addition, another resident recently lodged a complaint with the council’s senior air quality officer who in response has advised residents to monitor all incidents of dust emissions and report them direct to him as soon as possible. The response received from the officer is reproduced below in full:
Environmental Permitting (England & Wales) Regulations 2016
Further to previous correspondence, I am now able to provide an update on the measures employed by the company to control dust from the permitted activities on the site. The company have now completed a review of the dust suppression measures on site and to further reduce dust emissions from the processing of material the screen and stockpiles of material are now to be relocated to the lower section of the site. This will not only provide increased screening but also the stockpiles will be located at a greater distance from the village. It has also been emphasised to the company of the requirement to apply water suppression and/or dust suppressants to the surface of roadways on site used by heavy goods vehicles. The protective screening provided by netting on site is also to be replaced.
In addition to the above, I requested the company ensure they provide me with the dust monitoring results obtained from the dust gauges surrounding the site and these will be closely scrutinised since they provide a measure of the effectiveness of dust control measures employed on site. These will be followed up if and when required with the company.
If incidents of dust deposition on properties surrounding the site occur then a record of the dates and the times when these occur is required in the first instance. This should include details of when surfaces e.g. windowsills were cleaned and also when deposits of dust were observed. Any further photographic evidence will also assist with the date and time that the photograph and/or video was taken recorded. If there are residents experiencing such dust emissions then they should contact myself initially to discuss the incidents and the required procedure.
If you have any incidents of dust emissions to report please get in touch with the air quality officer at: david.gribben@durham.gov.uk including all necessary details as shown in the text above.
