Asked by: Lord Mann (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the environmental and health risks posed by the abandoned waste site at Sandy Lane, Worksop.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
The site at Sandy lane was abandoned in October 2016 and from this point onwards there has been no site management. There have however been regular Police and Fire service patrols and the site is monitored using CCTV.
The Environment Agency is working with Local Resilience Forum members, including Bassetlaw District Council, the Nottinghamshire Fire Service, Nottinghamshire County Council and Public Health England, to manage the risks at the site and is acting to clear the waste that also poses a risk to human health.
There are three main waste streams which have been left at the site: mixed non-hazardous combustible waste in and around the transfer building; mixed construction and demolition (C&D) non-combustible waste outside and the bags of polyurethane foam, mostly deposited in the centre of the site. The table below outlines the estimated costs associated with each waste stream. The cost of this clearance, excluding landfill tax have not been included as the landfill tax is not waived, which has been previously communicated by HMT to the HM for Bassetlaw.
Waste | Estimated quantity (tonnes)1 | Estimated Costs in £k (including Landfill Tax) |
Mixed C&D non-combustible | 20,000 | 3,000 |
Non-Hazardous combustible | 2,500 | 375 |
Polyurethane foam | 100 | 20 |
1The tonnages have been estimated by officers’ observations on site. A more accurate assessment of the volumes of waste present at the site would cost around £5K.
The main environmental and health risk from the site is from the polyurethane foam left on site. The Environment Agency, county and district councils have set funds aside and are making plans to remove this foam as soon as possible.
The Environment Agency has also been working in close partnership with Bassetlaw District Council, Notts Fire & Rescue Service, Police, the County Council and Public Health England, to create a tactical plan which will be implemented in the event of a fire. The Notts Fire & Rescue Service will shortly be entering the site and will attempt to move wastes around the site to allow for fire breaks and better access.
The other environmental risks are in relation to the degradation of the waste. The Environment Agency, Fire and Rescue Service and Bassetlaw DC do have powers to intervene in exceptional circumstances where there is a serious risk to the environment and health.
The Environment Agency is continuing its investigation into the former operators of the site. There is close contact about the site at official level across Government agencies. The Secretary of State has not discussed the site with Cabinet colleagues since his appointment on 11 June.
Asked by: Lord Mann (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for how many days the waste site at Sandy Lane, Worksop, has had no site management.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
The site at Sandy lane was abandoned in October 2016 and from this point onwards there has been no site management. There have however been regular Police and Fire service patrols and the site is monitored using CCTV.
The Environment Agency is working with Local Resilience Forum members, including Bassetlaw District Council, the Nottinghamshire Fire Service, Nottinghamshire County Council and Public Health England, to manage the risks at the site and is acting to clear the waste that also poses a risk to human health.
There are three main waste streams which have been left at the site: mixed non-hazardous combustible waste in and around the transfer building; mixed construction and demolition (C&D) non-combustible waste outside and the bags of polyurethane foam, mostly deposited in the centre of the site. The table below outlines the estimated costs associated with each waste stream. The cost of this clearance, excluding landfill tax have not been included as the landfill tax is not waived, which has been previously communicated by HMT to the HM for Bassetlaw.
Waste | Estimated quantity (tonnes)1 | Estimated Costs in £k (including Landfill Tax) |
Mixed C&D non-combustible | 20,000 | 3,000 |
Non-Hazardous combustible | 2,500 | 375 |
Polyurethane foam | 100 | 20 |
1The tonnages have been estimated by officers’ observations on site. A more accurate assessment of the volumes of waste present at the site would cost around £5K.
The main environmental and health risk from the site is from the polyurethane foam left on site. The Environment Agency, county and district councils have set funds aside and are making plans to remove this foam as soon as possible.
The Environment Agency has also been working in close partnership with Bassetlaw District Council, Notts Fire & Rescue Service, Police, the County Council and Public Health England, to create a tactical plan which will be implemented in the event of a fire. The Notts Fire & Rescue Service will shortly be entering the site and will attempt to move wastes around the site to allow for fire breaks and better access.
The other environmental risks are in relation to the degradation of the waste. The Environment Agency, Fire and Rescue Service and Bassetlaw DC do have powers to intervene in exceptional circumstances where there is a serious risk to the environment and health.
The Environment Agency is continuing its investigation into the former operators of the site. There is close contact about the site at official level across Government agencies. The Secretary of State has not discussed the site with Cabinet colleagues since his appointment on 11 June.
Asked by: Lord Mann (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the cost of clearing waste from the waste site at Sandy Lane, Worksop (a) including and (b) not including landfill tax forgone.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
The site at Sandy lane was abandoned in October 2016 and from this point onwards there has been no site management. There have however been regular Police and Fire service patrols and the site is monitored using CCTV.
The Environment Agency is working with Local Resilience Forum members, including Bassetlaw District Council, the Nottinghamshire Fire Service, Nottinghamshire County Council and Public Health England, to manage the risks at the site and is acting to clear the waste that also poses a risk to human health.
There are three main waste streams which have been left at the site: mixed non-hazardous combustible waste in and around the transfer building; mixed construction and demolition (C&D) non-combustible waste outside and the bags of polyurethane foam, mostly deposited in the centre of the site. The table below outlines the estimated costs associated with each waste stream. The cost of this clearance, excluding landfill tax have not been included as the landfill tax is not waived, which has been previously communicated by HMT to the HM for Bassetlaw.
Waste | Estimated quantity (tonnes)1 | Estimated Costs in £k (including Landfill Tax) |
Mixed C&D non-combustible | 20,000 | 3,000 |
Non-Hazardous combustible | 2,500 | 375 |
Polyurethane foam | 100 | 20 |
1The tonnages have been estimated by officers’ observations on site. A more accurate assessment of the volumes of waste present at the site would cost around £5K.
The main environmental and health risk from the site is from the polyurethane foam left on site. The Environment Agency, county and district councils have set funds aside and are making plans to remove this foam as soon as possible.
The Environment Agency has also been working in close partnership with Bassetlaw District Council, Notts Fire & Rescue Service, Police, the County Council and Public Health England, to create a tactical plan which will be implemented in the event of a fire. The Notts Fire & Rescue Service will shortly be entering the site and will attempt to move wastes around the site to allow for fire breaks and better access.
The other environmental risks are in relation to the degradation of the waste. The Environment Agency, Fire and Rescue Service and Bassetlaw DC do have powers to intervene in exceptional circumstances where there is a serious risk to the environment and health.
The Environment Agency is continuing its investigation into the former operators of the site. There is close contact about the site at official level across Government agencies. The Secretary of State has not discussed the site with Cabinet colleagues since his appointment on 11 June.
Asked by: Lord Mann (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has held discussions with the Secretary of State for Transport and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Secretary on the potential risk and costs of a fire at the abandoned waste site at Sandy Lane, Worksop.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
The site at Sandy lane was abandoned in October 2016 and from this point onwards there has been no site management. There have however been regular Police and Fire service patrols and the site is monitored using CCTV.
The Environment Agency is working with Local Resilience Forum members, including Bassetlaw District Council, the Nottinghamshire Fire Service, Nottinghamshire County Council and Public Health England, to manage the risks at the site and is acting to clear the waste that also poses a risk to human health.
There are three main waste streams which have been left at the site: mixed non-hazardous combustible waste in and around the transfer building; mixed construction and demolition (C&D) non-combustible waste outside and the bags of polyurethane foam, mostly deposited in the centre of the site. The table below outlines the estimated costs associated with each waste stream. The cost of this clearance, excluding landfill tax have not been included as the landfill tax is not waived, which has been previously communicated by HMT to the HM for Bassetlaw.
Waste | Estimated quantity (tonnes)1 | Estimated Costs in £k (including Landfill Tax) |
Mixed C&D non-combustible | 20,000 | 3,000 |
Non-Hazardous combustible | 2,500 | 375 |
Polyurethane foam | 100 | 20 |
1The tonnages have been estimated by officers’ observations on site. A more accurate assessment of the volumes of waste present at the site would cost around £5K.
The main environmental and health risk from the site is from the polyurethane foam left on site. The Environment Agency, county and district councils have set funds aside and are making plans to remove this foam as soon as possible.
The Environment Agency has also been working in close partnership with Bassetlaw District Council, Notts Fire & Rescue Service, Police, the County Council and Public Health England, to create a tactical plan which will be implemented in the event of a fire. The Notts Fire & Rescue Service will shortly be entering the site and will attempt to move wastes around the site to allow for fire breaks and better access.
The other environmental risks are in relation to the degradation of the waste. The Environment Agency, Fire and Rescue Service and Bassetlaw DC do have powers to intervene in exceptional circumstances where there is a serious risk to the environment and health.
The Environment Agency is continuing its investigation into the former operators of the site. There is close contact about the site at official level across Government agencies. The Secretary of State has not discussed the site with Cabinet colleagues since his appointment on 11 June.
Asked by: Lord Mann (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on what date the planned consultation on the domestic ivory ban will open.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
We will be consulting on these plans shortly.
Asked by: Lord Mann (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with her counterparts in HM Treasury and the Department for Communities and Local Government on environmental risks posed by the Crown Estate-owned site in Worksop previously occupied by Trent Valley recycling.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
The Environment Agency has revoked Trent Valley Recycling’s environmental permit and is investigating the former owners and operators of the site. It is also working with the local resilience forum to ensure that plans are in place to deal with any eventualities on the site. I have not made any representations to Ministerial colleagues about the site.
Asked by: Lord Mann (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to pursue enforcement action on the site owned by the Crown Estate in Worksop previously occupied by Trent Valley Recycling; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
The Environment Agency is currently pursuing the former owners and operators of the Trent Valley Recycling (TVR) site and all those connected for offences under the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2010.
The Environment Agency has been working with partners from the Nottinghamshire Local Resilience Forum (LRF) to identify the risks associated with the site. The main risk to the public is the potential for the abandoned waste on site to catch fire. There is a low risk of this waste self-combusting, but there is a risk of someone gaining access to the site and deliberately setting fire to the waste which could result in a major fire. The site, however, is fenced off and the entrance secured.
Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service has produced a tactical fire plan for the site, outlining the steps they would take in such an event. All partners have contributed to this plan and a Tactical Liaison Group will be established in the event of a major fire.
The Local Resilience Forum has estimated that a major fire at the site is likely to last a number of weeks. A fire at a similar site in north Nottinghamshire in October 2016 required a fire service presence for 6 weeks and cost in the region of £1.5 million. Other partners in the LRF would have costs associated with tackling a major fire also.
Asked by: Lord Mann (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the Government's potential liabilities in the event that fire occurs at the Crown Estate site in Worksop previously occupied by Trent Valley Recycling.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
The Environment Agency is currently pursuing the former owners and operators of the Trent Valley Recycling (TVR) site and all those connected for offences under the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2010.
The Environment Agency has been working with partners from the Nottinghamshire Local Resilience Forum (LRF) to identify the risks associated with the site. The main risk to the public is the potential for the abandoned waste on site to catch fire. There is a low risk of this waste self-combusting, but there is a risk of someone gaining access to the site and deliberately setting fire to the waste which could result in a major fire. The site, however, is fenced off and the entrance secured.
Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service has produced a tactical fire plan for the site, outlining the steps they would take in such an event. All partners have contributed to this plan and a Tactical Liaison Group will be established in the event of a major fire.
The Local Resilience Forum has estimated that a major fire at the site is likely to last a number of weeks. A fire at a similar site in north Nottinghamshire in October 2016 required a fire service presence for 6 weeks and cost in the region of £1.5 million. Other partners in the LRF would have costs associated with tackling a major fire also.
Asked by: Lord Mann (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential risks to public safety from the Trent Valley Crown Estate site used for recycling in Worksop.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
The Environment Agency is currently pursuing the former owners and operators of the Trent Valley Recycling (TVR) site and all those connected for offences under the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2010.
The Environment Agency has been working with partners from the Nottinghamshire Local Resilience Forum (LRF) to identify the risks associated with the site. The main risk to the public is the potential for the abandoned waste on site to catch fire. There is a low risk of this waste self-combusting, but there is a risk of someone gaining access to the site and deliberately setting fire to the waste which could result in a major fire. The site, however, is fenced off and the entrance secured.
Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service has produced a tactical fire plan for the site, outlining the steps they would take in such an event. All partners have contributed to this plan and a Tactical Liaison Group will be established in the event of a major fire.
The Local Resilience Forum has estimated that a major fire at the site is likely to last a number of weeks. A fire at a similar site in north Nottinghamshire in October 2016 required a fire service presence for 6 weeks and cost in the region of £1.5 million. Other partners in the LRF would have costs associated with tackling a major fire also.