News and Media
Your feedback on proposed new waste facilities - Sinfin Lane
24.3.2009
Resource Recovery Solutions (RRS) (Derbyshire) Ltd has been listening to the public's views on their proposals for a state-of-the-art Waste Treatment Facility and Visitor and Education Centre at Sinfin, Derby.
Around 250 people attended RRS' four public information days across Derby and Derbyshire which also outlined the proposals for two Waste Transfer Stations - at Clover Nook in Alfreton, Derbyshire and Magfern's Yard, Downing Road in Derby.
When built the Sinfin facility would divert approximately 180,000 tonnes of waste (the equivalent weight of around 23,904 double decker buses) from landfill and create 38 jobs.
Blair Marriott, Project Director for RRS said:
"The information days – one of which was held on Sinfin Lane – have been a great opportunity for us to talk to people about the proposals and I am delighted that so many people could attend. A number of people were genuinely interested in the proposals and supported the move towards managing waste more sustainably and diverting it from landfill. We have received some really useful feedback which we are now considering and where possible we will incorporate these ideas into our plans."
The information days enabled RRS to answer people's questions and address any concerns. People attending the information days were interested in a number of topics, including: the technology proposed, site selection, air quality and traffic.
Nick Dawber, Managing Director of Energos, who is providing the technology for the facility, said:
"Local people understandably had questions about how the technology will work. A hi-tech process called gasification is used to generate enough electricity to power the plant and around 14,000 homes. This technology is already widely used in Norway and Germany - countries with impressive recycling levels."
The Sinfin Lane site was chosen following an extensive review of other sites - detailed in the Alternative Sites Assessment which will accompany the planning application. There are a number of criteria which need to be met, including size, availability and risk of flooding and RRS have looked at over 400 sites. People at the information days suggested alternative sites, such as Raynesway, which have been considered but were found to be unsuitable.
Blair Marriott continued:
"The information days enabled us to show people how we will manage potential issues such as traffic to the site and protecting the local air quality. Currently around 13,000 vehicles use Sinfin Lane per weekday, the new facility would increase this by 3%, which the local road network can easily accommodate. A new traffic junction will be constructed at the site entrance onto Sinfin Lane – this will be positioned further away from the railway bridge than the existing entrance and will involve some road surface improvements.
"We understand that people are concerned about the potential impact of the facility on local air quality.
Emissions from the facility will be a fraction of the strict limits permitted under EU regulations, and will be continually monitored."
The facility will be housed in a modern fully contained building, with all waste delivered and handled within the building. It has been designed to fit into the local area – from the outside it will look like one of the nearby industrial or commercial buildings. RRS are also incorporating a Visitor and Education facility for local schools
and the public, which can be used as a local community centre facility.
A Community Liaison Group has been set up in Derby and will continue to meet throughout the construction
and operation of the facility.
