The Campaign Against Sandford Farm Waste Removal To Hurst

During the summer Hurst Village Society has been campaigning on behalf of residents against the Hicks-Persimmon proposals to remove 300,000 cubic metres of hazardous and non-hazardous waste from Sandford Farm in Woodley and dump it in Lea Farm and Whistley Court Farm, Lodge Road, Hurst so that 450 houses can be built on Sandford Farm.

The key motivation behind this proposal is an EU Landfill Directive which will come into force on 16 July 2004. It means that hazardous waste can only be disposed of in specific sites outside the Thames Valley because there will be no provision within the area.

HVS joined forces with Woodley residents campaigning under the banner Loddon Valley Action. In 1999 Loddon Valley Action and HVS helped to ensure that the Planning Inspector dismissed Hicks-Persimmon’s proposal to extract the waste and build 250 homes.

More than 2,200 leaflets “Smell, Dust, Noise, Flies - they could all come your way if the proposed development at Sandford Farm goes ahead” were delivered through the areas of Hurst, Twyford and Charvil that are most likely to be affected by the waste extraction.

As a result of that publicity, and extensive coverage in the local media, more than 400 people have written letters of objection to Wokingham Unitary Authority. Thank you to everyone who has written to the council, and offered to support the campaign.

Several residents have also contacted other interested groups such as Friends of the Earth, the Green Party, and RSPB. HVS has also contacted English Nature, and alerted local fishermen and owners of the fishing lakes around Whistley Mill and Land’s End.

Environment Agency concerns

The impact of the proposals is also of concern to the Environment Agency which has a statutory role in planning and provides advice to the council.

The Environment Agency’s concerns include:

• The plans do not give enough information about what the developers would do if there is not enough space at Lea Farm and Whistley Court Farm to accommodate all the waste.
• The Agency would expect alternative sites to be identified and licensed by the Agency to receive this waste before Wokingham council considers the proposals.
• Hicks-Persimmon propose to sort and de-water the waste at Sandford Farm. The Agency believes this would increase the risk of pollution, and would like to see that work done at Lea Farm under a controlled and safe environment, which would mean transporting wet sludge across the Loddon.
• Currently, there is no Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) permit for hazardous waste from Sandford Farm to be deposited at Whistley Court Farm. This permit would have to be granted by the Agency to Summerleaze, the company which manages the Whistley Court and Lea Farm sites. The Agency would expect Wokingham council to confirm the permit has been granted before considering the Hicks-Persimmon proposals.

Wetland habitats at risk

HVS and Loddon Valley Action have contacted environmental organisations to encourage them to assess the likely impact of removing and transporting the waste across the River Loddon on nationally-important and protected species such as the Loddon Lily, and barn owls which are known to feed in the area.

A Landscape Character Assessment of the Loddon river valley, currently being undertaken by Land Use Consultants on behalf of Wokingham council, refers to the wetland habitats of the middle Loddon valley, which includes Hurst, as “of national importance due to the scarcity of the flora and fauna present”. The final report by Land Use Consultants will be used by the council as Supplementary Planning Guidance.

Next steps in the process

HVS has been told that Hicks-Persimmon’s proposals are likely to be considered at the Development Control Committee meeting on 12 November where HVS will speak against the plans. It also means that there is still time for people to write and object to the development.

Quote application numbers MIN/2003/9638 and O/2003/9639 on your letters, and send them to:

Jenifer Jackson and Ted Clover Planning Services Wokingham Unitary Authority PO Box 157 Shute End Wokingham RG40 1WR

During the coming weeks HVS will continue to campaign by lobbying decision-makers in Wokingham, and discussing the issues with Hurst MP, the Rt. Hon. Theresa May, and Caroline Lucas, Green Party MEP for the South East, so that they can lobby on our behalf too.