Shanks wins odour appeal at Cumbria MBT

And, the waste business has also seen a council-imposed odour limit removed, which was originally set when planning permission for the site was granted. This restricted odour emissions from the site to ‘5 units at an occupational receptor’.

Shanks will continue to monitor odour outputs from the site, as per the terms of its environmental permit, issued by the Environment Agency.

However, an appeal to overturn noise level limits placed on the site has been thrown out by the county council.

Shanks originally received planning permission on the Barrow MBT plant in 2010, one of two 75,000 tonne-per-year capacity facilities developed under the company’s 25-year, £720 million waste disposal contract with the council.

Closure

Since operations began in March 2013, the plant has been forced to temporarily close its doors twice.

In August 2013, Shanks suspended operations at the site due to a fly infestation, and in 2015 the plant was served with an enforcement notice by the Environment Agency for issues relating to odour management (see letsrecycle.com story).

In its consideration of Shanks’ appeal to vary the planning conditions, the council found that Shanks has produced an Odour Management Plan since permission was first granted – in accordance with the Environment Agency’s Technical Guidance Note H4.

The report states: “Whilst local residents have raised concerns with regards to operations at the site with regards to odours, the Environment Agency and Borough Environmental Health Officer consider that the level of information submitted with this planning application has addressed the concerns previously raised in a way to ensure that odours can be adequately dealt with under the new environmental permit issued by the Environment Agency.”

Noise

However, the council has not granted Shanks’ request to remove noise level limits on the site, which are set at 48-decibels at the corner of Bouthwood Road and 45-decibels at nearby Gilswood Farm.

Councillors remain concerned with regards to noise impacts on local residents where there are adverse weather conditions – despite Shanks’ assurance that noise from the plant has not resulted in any adverse comments from Barrow council’s environmental health officer.

Commenting on the decision, a spokeswoman for Shanks said: “Shanks is pleased that the duplication of environmental compliance regulation at its Barrow facility has now been removed and we can continue to operate under our existing regulation which is enforced by the Environment Agency.

“We are considering the outcome of the planning committee in terms of new noise restraints at our Barrow MBT facility and hope that an appropriate agreement can be reached shortly.”