SITA UK has commissioned a specialist team from AMEC Earth and Environmental UK Ltd to undertake air quality monitoring around its Seghill landfill site.
The monitoring is to take place over a minimum 7-day period starting this week at three locations at the boundary of the landfill site. Specialist sampling equipment will be used to monitor air quality over a 24-hour averaging period.
It has been commissioned as an additional piece of research to sit alongside SITA UK's Environmental Statement submitted to the three councils as part of its planning application for an extension to the Seghill landfill site. In order to ensure accuracy, the monitoring period will be extended if there is extensive wet weather, which could cause an unrepresentative result. The monitoring will have no impact on local residents.
The scope of the air quality monitoring has been agreed with Blyth Valley and North Tyneside councils, and the findings will be submitted to the authorities to ensure that they have all the necessary information available when they make their decision about the planning application for SITA UK's proposed extension to the Seghill landfill site.
Annemarie Wilshaw, Planning Manager with SITA UK, said: "This will provide additional detail to sit alongside the comprehensive Environmental Statement we have submitted as part of the planning application. We expect to submit the results to the local councils before Christmas."
Liz Hocking, Senior Consultant with AMEC, who will be leading the project, said: "This monitoring will provide important baseline data that will allow SITA UK and the local councils to have a clear and accurate picture of the air quality around the existing Seghill landfill site."
SITA UK has applied to extend its present landfill operations at the Seghill site by 15 years. The proposed landfill extension will cover a site of 19 hectares of land to the east of the existing site. A specially created landscaping area, covering a further 49 hectares, will surround the proposed extension and shield the site from local residential areas. The company plans to build a new access road, with its junction close to the A19/B1322 Backworth Lane, which will divert most site traffic away from the village of Seghill.
As the landfill site lies on the border of the North Tyneside and Northumberland local authority areas, both councils are responsible for dealing with planning applications and giving approval before the extension is given the go-ahead. Blyth Valley Council also plays a key role as it is responsible for environmental health issues in the area.
John Grainger, General Manager for SITA UK in the North East, said: 'Even with the substantial progress that we are now making in increasing recycling and developing new ways of disposing of waste, landfill remains an important part of an integrated waste management solution for Northumberland and North Tyneside, and we simply can't afford to be without it. Our research shows that Seghill is the most appropriate site for landfill and this is why we believe that extending Seghill is the best option for Northumberland and North Tyneside.'
For further information contact:
Kirstie Phimister (SITA UK)
01628 513243 or 07870 253482
Doug Allan (DTW) 01287 610404