Consultation extended for East Northants hazardous and low-level radioactive waste landfill expansion

Members of the public are being urged to take part in the public consultation for a divisive landfill site that could expand near to an East Northants beauty spot.

East Northants Resource Management Facility (ENRMF)'s owner Augean is currently preparing an application for a Development Consent Order for an extension onto fields next to the existing site, that could extend the time it will be active as a landfill site by 20 years, and double the landfill site's area.

Augean had been consulting about its proposals to extend the operational area of the East Northants Resource Management Facility (ENRMF) since the end of October with the consultation due to end on January 8, but the deadline has been extended.

The proposal could see expansion of the deep pits, where hazardous waste and low-level radioactive waste are disposed of, into fields between the present landfill site and Fineshade Woods, north of Kings Cliffe.

Dr Gene Wilson, Augean, head of environmental planning, said: “We have explained to members of the local community, that have made enquiries regarding the end of the formal consultation on January 8, that we are happy to consider any submissions that are made after this date and indeed throughout the entire Development Consent Order (DCO) application process.

"However, it has been suggested to us that it would be helpful for Augean to formalise this arrangement which we are happy to do.

"We are now extending the consultation once more with a deadline of responses of Monday 15 February 2021.”

Members of Friends of Fineshade Woods had encouraged residents and users of the ancient woodlands to voice their opinions on the expansion plans.

Members have been urging Augean to consider expanding the landfill on to different fields to allow the wildlife a green corridor between Collyweston Great Wood and Fineshade Wood where there is a rich diversity of wildlife and threatened species including populations of adders, dormice and newts.

Dr Wilson added: “The DCO application process allows for several stages of consultation with the local community and that the current formal consultation period is only the first stage of the wider consultation process.

"There will be several other opportunities to provide comment both to Augean and directly to the Secretary of State through the Planning Inspectorate in the coming months once the application has been submitted.

"As soon as Covid -19 restrictions are lifted sufficiently and we are safely able to, we will be able to recommence our programme of open days that we hold annually as well as offering visits to the site by arrangement as part of our open door policy that will provide additional opportunities for the local community to discuss the application with us and make further comments.”

So that members of the public can participate in the consultation Augean has made the public exhibition available online at www.augeanconsultation.co.uk.

The exhibition includes opportunities to send in questions about the proposed development which the Augean team will answer and an online comments sheet so that responses to the consultation can be submitted.

Anyone unable to access the exhibition online, can call the helpline on 01904 654989 to request a hard copy exhibition pack which contains a booklet version of the exhibition boards together with all the response forms.