Meece Soil Treatment Facility - apps2.staffordshire.gov.uk

Meece Soil Treatment Facility Planning Application

November 2011

Summary of Key Environmental Issues

PROPOSED SOIL TREATMENT FACILITY AT MEECE LANDFILL

November 2011

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Summary of Key Environmental Issues


November 2011

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SKM Enviros I:\JEIA\Projects\JE30415\Deliverables\Reports\Final\Summary of Key Environmental Issues\Ref 1672374 Meece STF Summary of Key Environmental Issues QA sheet.docx PAGE iii

Document history and status Revision Date issued Reviewed by Approved by Date approved Revision type

Final 02/12/2011 Tim Hammond Tim Hammond 02/12/2011 Final Review

Distribution of copies Revision Copy no Quantity Issued to

Final 1 4 Staffordshire County Council

Final 2 2 Biffa Waste Services Ltd

Final 3 1 Biogenie

Printed: 1 December 2011

Last saved: 1 December 2011 12:45 PM

File name: Ref 1672374 Meece STF Summary of Key Environmental Issues

Author: Rob Davies

Project manager: Rob Davies

Name of organisation: Biffa Waste Services Ltd

Name of project: Meece Soil Treatment Facility

Name of document: Summary of Key Environmental Issues

Document version: Final

Project number: JE30415


SKM Enviros I:\JEIA\Projects\JE30415\Deliverables\Reports\Final\Summary of Key Environmental Issues\Ref 1672374 Meece STF Summary of Key Environmental Issues QA sheet.docx PAGE 1

Contents Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 2: Environmental Impact of Proposals

Chapter 3: Overall Conclusions

Figures Figure 1: Site Context

Figure 2: Site Layout


NOVEMBER 2011 SUMMARY OF KEY ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES 1

1. INTRODUCTION

This document contains a brief description of the proposal to develop a Soil Treatment Facility (STF) at the Meece Landfill site, Swynnerton, and a summary of key environmental issues (the findings of which are reported in a document called an Environmental Report (ER)) associated with the proposal. This document summarises the key findings of the environmental studies in non-technical terms. Its purpose is to provide an overview for all interested parties, who can then make reference to the more detailed information contained in the ER, if desired.

Staffordshire County Council determined on the 25th November that the proposals do not require the production of a formal Environmental Statement to accompany the application. However, an ER has been prepared on the basis of ensuring good environmental practice, to accompany a planning application for the STF. This application is also accompanied by a Planning Support Statement which lists and describes planning policy, relevant to the proposals. The assessment has identified, appraised and interpreted all the relevant environmental aspects that the proposals may affect.

Both the ER and the Summary of Key Environmental Issues are public documents, copies of the full documentation for this planning application have been placed on deposit at the following locations, where it may be examined by members of the public during normal office hours.

Biffa Waste Services Reception Meece Landfill Site Coldmeece Stone Staffordshire ST15 0QN Tel: 01785 761707 (NB viewing at Meece Landfill site is by prior appointment only; please contact the site using the telephone number above to arrange a suitable time to visit) Staffordshire County Council Development Services Riverway Stafford ST16 3TJ Stafford Borough Council Civic Centre Riverside Stafford Staffordshire

The ER, in the form of a CD, can be purchased at a cost of £20, or £200 for a hard copy from:

SKM Enviros Ltd Enviros House Shrewsbury Business Park Shrewsbury Shropshire SY2 6LG



The Summary of Key Environmental Issues is available free of charge from the same address.

1.1 Background and Need

Biffa Waste Services Ltd (Biffa) is seeking planning permission to develop a Soil Treatment Facility (STF), at the Meece Landfill Site near Swynnerton, Staffordshire. The STF will be operated by Biffa, using technology supplied by their partner Biogenie. Biffa and Biogenie currently operate a number of other STFs at locations in the UK.

The STF will treat up to 29,999 tonnes per year of contaminated soils that are classified as hazardous wastes, under the Hazardous Waste (England and Wales) regulations 2005. The contaminated soils that the STF will treat will typically be contaminated by fuels and oils, often arising from historical industrial uses at brownfield land sites. The removal and treatment of these soils will allow these brownfield sites to be re-developed.

The STF will treat these soils by accelerating biological activity that occurs naturally within the soil to reduce the concentration of hazardous compounds. Once the soil has undergone this treatment, it will be used by Biffa in the restoration of Biffa’s Poplars and Meece landfill sites. There is currently a shortfall in the availability of materials that can be used for landfill restoration. If not treated, contaminated soil would otherwise be sent to landfill for disposal. The is a recognised shortfall in hazardous waste soil treatment capacity in the UK, and Biffa by bringing forwarded these proposals, is helping to respond to this need and in doing so will also be helping to reduce the amount of this type of waste that is going to landfill. The proposed STF will help to preserve capacity at Meece and other hazardous waste management facilities for wastes that cannot be otherwise recovered or recycled.

In November 2005 Biffa and Biogenie opened the first STF in the UK, at Biffa’s Risley landfill site in Warrington, and won an award for “Best Use of Biological Systems” at the prestigious Brownfield Briefing Remediation Innovation Awards (BBRIA) 2006. Since then, Biffa and Biogenie have developed further STF’s in the south, at their Colnbrook landfill site in Slough, later replaced by a facility at their Redhill landfill site in Surrey. Biffa have now identified a need and opportunity for a similar facility at Meece landfill site, to serve the Midlands.

The Landfill site at Meece already has planning permission and a permit, granted by the Environment Agency, to receive hazardous wastes.

1.2 The Site

The site for the proposed STF covers 1.44 ha of land in the eastern part of Meece Landfill Site close to the site entrance. The landfill is not currently receiving waste, but does have planning permission and an Environmental Permit, issued by the Environment Agency, to receive and dispose of hazardous waste. Figure 1 shows the site location.

The proposed STF site is bounded to the north by the entrance to the landfill site, Swynnerton training area to the south, a strip of woodland and the Coldmeece to Swynnerton road to the east and the landfill site to the west. The western area of the proposed STF is within an area where the ground level will be raised as part of the restoration scheme that was agreed through the planning requirements of the Meece landfill’s planning permission.



The alignment of the existing access road would remain the same for the proposed STF although the levels would be modified and surface reconstructed, as appropriate. Furthermore, the area currently occupied by a long, open concrete bunker will also form part of the eastern soil treatment pad.

Meece Landfill site is located approximately 5km west of Stone and 1km south of the village of Swynnerton (see Figure 1). Access to the site is gained from the Coldmeece to Swynnerton Road. The overall landfill site has been developed on the site of the World War II Ministry of Defence (MOD) munitions factory. The area to the west of the landfill site contains the remainder of the old munitions factory, part of which is now used as an MOD training area. To the northeast of the landfill site is open countryside and parkland associated with Swynnerton Hall. The site of the proposed STF is well screened from the highway by a band of woodland.

The grounds of Swynnerton Hall Park are located on the opposite side of the Coldmeece to Swynnerton road, to the east of the STF site, along with Pilstones Wood, containing both replanted and semi natural woodland. Pilstones wood is also designated as a Site of Biological Importance in the Stafford Borough Local Plan 2001. The land on the eastern side of the Swynnerton Road is also designated as Green Belt in the Local Plan (the STF is not in, or directly adjacent to the Green Belt designated areas). There is a Scheduled Monument (a Bowl Barrow in Swynnerton Hall park) located approximately 1.3km to the north of the STF, and there are no statutory designated areas such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI’s), Special protection Areas (SPAs), Special Areas for Conservation (SACs) or Ramsar sites within 5km of the proposed site. There are no public rights of way within the vicinity of the proposed STF and unauthorised access to the Meece site is prohibited.

1.3 The Proposals

The STF will consist of two large tarmac covered treatment areas and associated equipment including pipework, pumps and water storage tanks. The STF will include a biofilter that will be used to remove dust and odour from the air that is drawn through the contaminated soils during the treatment process. There will also be a weighbridge and a site office and some mobile equipment including excavators that will be used to move soil around the STF site. The proposed site layout is shown in Figure 2.

Before being accepted at the STF site, Biffa will require analytical data to be provided by developers to demonstrate that contaminated soil is suitable for treatment and does not contain contaminants that cannot be treated by the STF. Contaminated soil will not be accepted onto the treatment area unless the STF is capable of treating such waste.

Soils for treatment will be predominantly delivered by eight-wheeled tipper lorries, classed as Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs), with an average payload of 19 tonnes. On average the STP would result in approximately 30 deliveries per week, although based upon experience at other soil treatment facilities there are likely to be periods when weekly inputs increase above this level and periods where lower volumes of inputs occur. Therefore, on average the STF is expected to generate up to 5 HGV deliveries per day. This equates to 1 HGV delivery every 2 hours spread over a 10.5 hour working weekday.

Once delivered to the site, the soils will be arranged into mounds called ‘biopiles’. The biopiles are managed using a system of lots which trace soils from their point of origin to their location on the treatment area. The lots system allows a certain



section of the treatment area to be dedicated to a particular consignment for the duration of the treatment process. In addition, the introduction of contaminated soils into the biopile process is managed to ensure that hazardous and non hazardous soils are treated separately within separate lots.

Under standard treatment the biopiles will generally be 3m in height but during soil delivery and mixing the biopile height can be up to 5m. No soil on the area is expected to exceed 6m as that would be the maximum height achievable with a standard 20 tonne excavator. It should be noted that irrespective of the height the quantity of soil treated at the STF will not exceed 29,999 tonnes per annum.

The base of the biopiles contain perforated aeration pipes and, if required, the top may be covered (e.g. using a tarpaulin). Gravel or crushed stone may be placed around this pipework, prior to the establishment of the biopile, to allow the free movement of air and water in the vicinity of the pipes. It is the drawing of air through the biopiles that stimulates microbial activity, which in turn breaks down the contaminants in the soil. The air is drawn through the aeration pipes, also collecting water. The water and air are then separated, with the water stored within tanks for treatment offsite (the water may potentially contain contaminants), and the air is passed through a biofilter to remove any odour or dust prior to release. Clean surface water, collected from hardstanding areas where soil is not being stored, will be collected within a storage lagoon and discharged into the existing landfill surface water drainage system. This release of water will be restricted to the same rate that water would percolate through a green field to prevent the existing drainage system from being overloaded in the event of a storm.

The biopiles are routinely sampled to confirm the concentration of contaminants and nutrients, acidity/alkalinity, moisture content and temperature. The soil temperature during treatment will usually 30 – 40°C and is a general indicator of microbial activity within the soil. Once the treatment process is complete, the treated soils will be removed from the biopiles and used as landfill restoration material.

The proposals will result in the generation of three additional staff positions at the Meece landfill site. Operational hours for the acceptance or movement of contaminated soils to the STF will be restricted to those currently approved for the Meece Landfill site:

Monday - Friday 07.30 to 18.00 hours;

Saturday 07.30 to 16.30 hours; and

Sunday & Bank Holidays No activity.

However, it may on occasion be necessary to undertake maintenance and environmental management activities outside of these hours.

Existing structures at the site, including two bunkers and an area of hardstanding that are remnants of the site’s former use as a munitions factory, will be demolished and used as construction materials for the proposed STF. Construction is anticipated to last approximately 12 weeks with construction hours restricted to those currently approved for the Meece Landfill site under its existing planning permission:

Monday - Friday 07.30 to 18.00 hours; and

Saturday 07.30 to 16.30 hours.

Construction activities are unlikely to take place on Sundays and Bank Holidays.



1.4 Scoping and Key Issues

A number of Statutory Consultees have been approached to discuss the proposals for an STF facility at Meece. These have included:

Staffordshire County Council

Stafford Borough Council

English Heritage

Comments received from the statutory consultees listed above have been taken into consideration in the environmental studies and are provided in full in Chapter 2 of the ER. The process of asking the planning authority how environmental impacts should be assessed is referred to as ‘scoping’. The scoping exercise has highlighted several areas where the proposals had the potential to impact upon the local and wider environment and affect local residents including:

Visual Appearance;

Noise;

Emissions to Air;

Hydrological Impacts;

Ecology considerations; and

Archaeological Issues.

Biffa have not carried out any community engagement prior to the submission of the planning application due to the very limited impacts that have been predicted from the environmental assessment work, restricted public access to the Meece site and the distance from the proposed STF to the nearest residential properties. Given the lack of adjacent sensitive neighbours and the limited nature of the development, it is not considered that extensive community engagement for this particular development is warranted. However, Biffa would respond to any enquiries or concerns in the spirit of full co-operation and openness with the local community.

1.5 Alternatives

Appropriate sites for waste management facilities are rare, due to the locational requirements necessary to ensure protection of the environment and to minimise loss of amenity.

The location of the proposed STF, within the permitted Meece landfill site, is considered to offer several environmental advantages. The STF will serve the need to treat contaminated soils to allow redevelopment of brownfield land, at a site that is adjacent to the landfill operations that will utilise the resulting treated soils. Biffa’s Poplars landfill site is also approximately 25 miles, by road, from the Meece site, providing another landfill site, operated by Biffa, within which remediated soils arising from the STF can be used as restoration material.

The Poplars landfill site was considered as a potential alternative location for the proposed STF, along with Biffa’s Newstead site at Stoke on Trent. It was concluded that there is insufficient room available at both sites, especially with the



commencement of operations at the Anaerobic Digestion facility at Poplars. Other industrial sites were discounted as they would require additional haulage to transport remediated soils to Biffa’s landfill operations.

The proposed layout represents the culmination of several rounds of design changes that have been made for a number of reasons including planning issues, cost, and consideration of environmental impact. This includes reducing the area of STF within the approved restoration scheme for the landfill to minimise the degree of alteration required to the approved restoration contours, locating the STF near to the site entrance to provide HGV access to the STF and connection to services, and positioning the treatment pads to reduce the number of trees that will need to be removed.



2. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF THE PROPOSALS

The following sections describe the assessments that have been carried out of potential environmental impacts which could arise from the proposed STF facility.

2.1 Air Quality and Odour

An air quality and odour assessment has been carried out, and is provided in Chapter 5 of the ER, that provides a description of the legislation and policy framework relating to air quality issues associated with soil treatment facilities of this type. The assessment describes the current air quality conditions within the defined study area and explains the methodology used to assess the potential air quality effects.

During operation of the STF there are a number of potential issues relating to air quality including the release of dust including fine particulate matter, odour and substances called Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).

The chapter explains the control measures that will be incorporated within the design of the STF that include the use of the biofilter and damping down of the biopiles to prevent dust (the biopiles need to be kept moist in order to stimulate microbial activity). In addition the biopiles may be covered by tarpaulins where necessary. This is dependent on the type of contamination associated with the biopile and is also dependant on weather conditions. The drawing of air through the soil, in order to stimulate microbial activity, will create a vacuum within the biopiles, reducing the release of dust and odour. The air that is extracted will be passed through the biofilter, that will remove odour and dust from the air before it is released to the atmosphere. In addition to the biofilter, daily visual monitoring and sniff testing around the site will be carried out to determine if the various storage areas / process materials need to be damped down further to reduce any fugitive emissions of dust, odour and VOCs, or whether the biopiles need to be covered by tarpaulins.

The air quality and odour assessment concludes that given these control measures and the distance to the nearest residential properties (over 750m from the STF site), there is unlikely to be any significant impact on local air quality or the health of local people, due to airborne emissions from the site. Therefore the potential for impact on air quality and odour is considered to be low risk and therefore is classed as insignificant.

2.2 Landscape and Visual

The potential landscape and visual impacts that could arise from the STF are considered within Chapter 6 of the ER. The landscape and visual assessment describes the STF site and surrounding area and assesses how the STF will potentially alter these conditions, and how significant this change will be. The general approach to the landscape and visual impact assessment includes the following key tasks:

A desk study of existing map and written information;

An assessment of the site and surrounding area to determine the ‘baseline’ against which the assessment is carried out (this aspect has included site visits and a field survey of the surrounding area);

Assessment of impacts on the perception of the landscape; and



Assessment of potential impacts on visual amenity.

The assessment is focussed on an area extending to approximately 2km from the proposed STF. This has been defined based on the scale, context and likely visibility of the proposals. The assessment considers national and local landscape character areas, and planning policy.

The proposed STF occupies a relatively enclosed position on the eastern edge of the site of the Meece Landfill Site. It is positioned within plantation woodland (probably planted as part of the establishment of Swynnerton Defence Training Area) that lies on this edge of the overall site. While the proposed development would lead to the loss of trees within this woodland, a significant block of trees would be retained between it and the Coldmeece and Swynnerton Road to the east. The location of the site means visual receptors in close proximity to the site are very limited. Overall, the proposed development would occupy an enclosed and visually discrete position, which would limit opportunities for it to be seen. There would be visibility from certain locations, but such views are isolated and the key visual receptors would be road users travelling past the site.

The key direct impacts on the landscape would be associated with vegetation removal. The proposed development would lead to the removal of a number of trees and clearance of vegetation across the site. The development would also lead to the removal of the derelict concrete structures and areas of hard standing, associated with the former military use of the site.

The removal of trees will be offset by proposals to provide additional understory planting within the remaining woodland between the proposed STF and road to the east. This will ensure that a continuous strip of planting would be maintained along the road, which would reduce potential visual impacts as well as the direct impacts on landscape. It is also proposed to construct a timber fence along the eastern site of the STF. While this will not prevent visibility of all aspects of the proposed development it will reduce it by restricting views of low level elements.

The proposed STF would constitute a limited change and the consequential landscape and visual impacts would be minimal. It would be visible from certain areas within the surrounding landscape, but such visibility would be very limited and this would diminish over time as the proposed planting matures. While the proposed STF will introduce a new feature in the landscape, the potential impact of this change in the context of the existing landscape character would be very limited. Overall, the scale, location and measures for planting and fencing that are proposed would result in the potential impacts not being significant.

2.3 Noise and Vibration

The effects of noise and vibration from the construction and use of the proposed Meece STF have been assessed within Chapter 7 of the ER. The assessment has been undertaken with reference to British Standards and national and international guidance on noise and vibration impacts. The chapter describes the methods used to assess the effects of noise impacts at the site and its surroundings. Potential direct and indirect effects of noise arising from the proposed STF arising are identified, together with control measures, where appropriate, required to prevent, reduce or offset any significant impacts. The resulting impacts, once the control measures are in place, have also been identified.



The assessment has found that the noise impact at the closest residential properties during the construction phases of the proposed STF will be ‘negligible’ during all phases of the construction programme and will be temporary in nature.

The predicted noise levels, arising from the construction of the STF, at the closest residential properties to the site are considered to be of a low magnitude. It is, therefore, expected that the noise associated with construction works will be below existing daytime noise levels due to the close proximity of both the STF and residential properties to the M6 motorway. The construction activities will also only take place during daytime hours when these background levels would be at their highest.

There are currently no British Standards that provide a methodology to predict levels of vibration from construction activities, other than that contained within BS 5228: 2009, which only relate to piling activities (it should be noted that the construction of the STF will not require piling to take place). BS 5228: 2009 suggests that perceptible levels of vibration extend out 20m from any piling activity. As the nearest residential property is over 700m from the proposed STF, and that piling is not proposed, there will not be any vibration impacts arising from the STF.

Noise levels arising from the operational activities of the STF are predicted and shown as noise contours within the ER. These include potential noise from the static equipment at the STF (such as pumps and fans), and also the vehicles used to move soils at the site. As with construction noise, operational noise is expected to be below existing daytime noise levels due to the close proximity of both the STF and residential properties to the M6 motorway. Operational activities will also only take place during daytime hours when these background levels would be at their highest.

Potential noise arising from traffic during construction and operation of the STF is also considered, however, the low traffic levels that will be generated by the STF mean that traffic noise will be ‘negligible’.

Following commissioning of the STF, a series of noise measurements will be carried out, at the identified residential locations that are considered within the assessment, to demonstrate compliance with the design noise objectives and ensure that there are no significant adverse effects. Note that the use of the word ‘adverse’ is a term used in assessing unabated noise sources and does not mean that there will be adverse impacts.

2.4 Ecology

Several surveys have been carried out at the proposed STF site including a habitat survey, bat survey and tree survey. The results of these surveys, along with a desk based study of designated sites local species records, are summarised in Chapter 8 of the ER.

The habitat survey for the STF site identified a number of habitat types within the application boundary including broadleaved semi-natural woodland, ephermal/short perennial herbs (greater willowherb, ragwort and brambles), semi-improved neutral grassland and tall ruderals (Rosebay willowherb, common fleabane, greater willowherb and nettle). To the south and southeast of the site, outside the application boundary, there is a large area of hybrid black poplars. None of the habitats that were identified are rare, scarce or protected.



There are no ponds within, or near to the site and so it is considered unlikely that the site would support great crested newt. The shaded nature of the site makes it unlikely that the site is used by reptiles and there are no other waterbodies making the site unsuitable for otter or watervole. No evidence of nesting birds were recorded on site during the survey

The habitat survey identified that a number of trees, and the derelict bunkers on the STF site could potentially be used as roosts by bats. A bat survey was therefore carried out, which identified a low number of bats using the surrounding area for foraging or commuting and has confirmed that bats do not pose a constraint to works proceeding.

The tree survey identified a number of trees within the STF site. The location, species, size and condition of the trees was recorded, and the trees were categorised according to their condition as follows:

Category A: High quality tree of good form with at least 40 years contribution

Category B: Moderate quality tree with 20>40 years contribution;

Category C: Low quality tree (usually of poor form or condition). Also trees of less the 150mm stem diameter (these may be considered for relocation; and

Category R: Remove (unsuitable for retention due to its poor condition or less than 10 years contribution.

The survey identified 295 trees within the STF boundary, of which 231 were Category C trees (low quality), 28 were Category B trees (moderate quality), and one was a Category A tree (high quality). It is noted that the Category A tree is within the area within which ground levels will be raised in accordance with the Meece landfill site planning permission, and so would be affected whether the STF were to proceed, or not. The existing planning permission for the site also allowed the removal of a number of trees to accommodate a Leachate Treatment Facility.

In siting the treatment pads and internal access roads, consideration has been given to the trees survey findings. The site layout avoids a dense area of category B trees to the south of the STF area, and also leaves a strip of woodland between the STF and the Swynnerton to Coldmeece Road to provide screening for the proposed development.

It is proposed to provide replacement tree planting within the area to the east of the STF between the STF site and the road, to compensate for the loss of trees, and also to provide additional screening of the STF from the road. The ER also provides a commitment to provide bird and bat boxes in this area and measures to protect the remaining trees during the construction phase of the development.

2.5 Water Quality and Drainage

Chapter 9 of the ER considers the potential impact of the STF on water quality and drainage. The key potential impacts are;

Pollution during the construction phase from sediment, oils and cement;

Polluted soils and sediment entering the storm water drainage system during the operation phase;

Process water (water that has been collected from the biopiles and soil treatment areas) draining off the biopiles and entering the storm water management system; and



Changes in peak rates of storm water discharge from the site.

A Flood Risk Assessment has also been carried out and is summarised within the chapter, and is provided in full within an Appendix.

The proposed STF will incorporate a number of measures that will act to protect the water environment. Many of these are required by legislation or are simply considered to be standard good industrial practice for any similar facility. The soil treatment area will have its own drainage network so that water that could potentially come into contact with contaminated soil, and could therefore become contaminated, is not released from the STF. Water that could have come into contact with the contaminated soil is referred to as process water, and will be passed through a carbon filter before being stored in process water storage tanks. This will then be collected and removed from the site for treatment off-site. Depending on weather conditions, the biopiles can be covered with tarpaulins to reduce the volume of water that could come into contact with the contaminated soil. All tanks containing chemicals at the STF site will be surrounded by a bund capable of retaining any spillage.

A range of further control measures are proposed during construction to protect water quality including the use of sediment traps and controlling surface water runoff from the construction site.

The Flood Risk Assessment provides calculations for the capacity of the surface water lagoon that will be used to store water that falls on the remaining hardstanding areas (i.e. those not containing the biopiles). This is sized so that surface water from a 1 in 100 year storm event can be stored and then released into the existing Meece landfill site drainage system at a controlled rate after the storm.

The assessment concludes that with the proposed control and management measures described in Chapter 9, there will be no significant impact to the local water environment arising from the STF.

2.6 Archaeology and Cultural Heritage

Chapter 10 deals with the potential impacts of the proposed STF on Archaeology and Cultural Heritage. It has been prepared based on a Desk Based Assessment (DBA) that is provided in full within an Appendix.

There are no Scheduled Monuments, Listed Buildings, Registered Parks and Gardens, Registered Battlefields, Conservation Areas or local archaeological features on the STF site. Only two Listed Buildings and a small number of locally recorded archaeological site and features have been identified within a 1km radius from the proposed STF site boundary.

Limited ground investigation works were undertaken in 1998 on site, which included three boreholes excavated on or close to the proposed STF. This identified up to 2.2 m of Made Ground, showing that the site has been previously disturbed.

Given the limited scope of this investigation, it is not currently possible to determine the levels of ground disturbance across the whole STF site when it formed part of the Royal Ordnance explosives filling factory and, subsequently, an Army Training Area. It is acknowledged, however, that the site would have been subject to some degree of disturbance due to this historical use. Therefore the potential for archaeological deposits below ground is predicted to be low. Due to the low



potential for below ground remains, no further archaeological investigation is required.

There are two derelict military bunkers on the site which are in poor condition. It is not considered that these structures are in a suitable condition to warrant re-use and incorporation into the proposals or recording through an historic building survey before demolition.

Due to the scale of the development, and existing screening around the site (woodland and existing buildings), the site is only partially visible from the Coldmeece to Swynnerton road at the point where it passes the site. Therefore, it is predicted that the development will only have a limited impact on the setting of a small area of Swynnerton Hall Park (which is a historic park which extends southwards from the village of Swynnerton).

2.7 Traffic and Transport

SKM Colin Buchanan (SKMCB) have produced a Transport Statement, that is summarised in Chapter 11 of the ER, to provide an appraisal of the anticipated transport impacts of the proposed STF at Meece Landfill Site.

The Transport Statement provides the following information:

A description of the site, the adjacent highway network and the existing access;

A description of the proposed STF along with the traffic generating potential of the proposals during the construction and operational phases. This includes consideration of the potential impacts arising from the traffic generation and the proposals for access; and

A summary of the Transport Statement and its conclusion.

The Transport Statement has been prepared with reference to the guidelines set out in the Department for Transport (DfT) ‘Guidance on Transport Assessments’, and concludes as follows.

Construction traffic volumes will be very low and unlikely to be detectable within the day to day variation in traffic flow on the local and trunk roads network.

Staff trips will be negligible; in terms of HGV trips, on average just 5 HGV deliveries per day will be generated by the development proposals over a 10.5 hour working weekday.

The traffic generated by the STF will be offset by the reduced reliance on imported inert fill and restoration soils, therefore, it is anticipated that the development proposals will have no net traffic impact. Furthermore, once the operational life of the landfill finishes, the impact of HGV vehicle movements associated with the continued operation of the STF will remain minimal with no net increase in traffic movements compared to that during landfill operation.

The existing site access to Meece Landfill Site will be used by vehicles accessing the proposed STF. Given the neutral traffic impact of the development proposals, it is not proposed to change the layout of the site access junction.

It is proposed that HGV’s delivering material to the site be subject to the same restrictions/agreements regulating the routes used by HGV’s to the existing landfill site.



The proposed development will not have any adverse impacts on the operation of the highway network or on road safety.



3. OVERALL CONCLUSIONS

A comprehensive assessment has been carried out of the potential environmental impacts that could arise from the proposed development of an STF at the Meece Landfill Site, Swynnerton. Alternatives to the proposals have been considered and a full description of the proposals has been provided, along with the agreed topics to be covered for the assessment. The resulting assessment areas have been covered in separate chapters within the main ER, assessing the anticipated impacts without protection measures in place, a description of suitable protection measures that should be used, where appropriate, and the resulting predicted residual impact level following the use of these measures.

It is concluded that, with the mitigation put forward within the ER then the proposed development will not result in any unacceptable impact on the local environment.

Documents

Meece Soil Treatment Facility - apps2.staffordshire.gov.uk