Environment and Transport Partnership

21 July 2005

 

Attending:        Ken McKay                  PECT

                        Trevor Gibson             PCC

                        Richard Astle              GPP

                        Reverend Patten         Railworld

                        Hugh Cripps                PECT               

                        Richard Olive               Friends of the Earth

                        Richard Dade              DWD Property

                        Simon Chiva                UKCEED

                        Peter Slinger                Architect

                        Rachel Price                Wildlife Trust

                        Jamie Gray                  PCC

                        Chris Williams              Global Olivine

                        Reese Williams            Global Olivine 

                        Ian Ardman                  Global Olivine

                        Adam Speed               PCC

 

1.                     Apologies

 

Apologies were received from Councillor Peach, Councillor Kreling and Candy Reed.

 

2.                     Minutes of Last Meeting

 

The minutes of the meetings held 19 May 2005 and 02 June 2005 were accepted as accurate records of the meetings held.

 

3.                     Matters Arising

 

The group discussed the question raised prior to the meeting by Peter Slinger about the CouncilÕs transport schemes and how they would be informed by the work of the Masterplan?

 

Trevor Gibson informed the group that the City Centre Masterplan was adopted guidance and not planning policy. The Local Transport Plan was informed by the City Centre Masterplan and the same data was used to complete both pieces of work.

 

4.                     Global Olivine Presentation

 

Chris Williams gave a presentation outlining the details of the Global Olivine application.

The concept of the application was a waste management strategy that does not produce waste, a strategy that was economically and environmentally viable.

 

Ken McKay informed the group that they faced a dilemma, as most of the group was interested in the Environment they would be in favour of the application if the technology worked, however, there were concerns that it would not.

 

Richard Olive stated that Friends of the Earth felt that there was insufficient independent information to reach a decision about the application and therefore supported a public enquiry.

 

Richard Olive raised a question about the plans for the site showing waste stores for fly ash. It was understood that the process didnÕt produce fly ash?

 

Chris Williams replied that fly ash was produced in recovery, this was then turned into a glass product and therefore, no fly ash would leave the facility.

 

Richard Olive also asked whether the plant could create clear glass?

 

Chris Williams explained that the glass was dark because iron and copper were absorbed into it, similar to beer bottles, this glass was fully recyclable.

 

Peter Slinger asked to what extent the road system was adequate?

 

Chris Williams answered that the road system outside of the parkways on Eastern Industry was not very good as it was originally designed as a one-way system. However, Global Olivine was investigating the possibility of using other forms of transport such as a renewably powered boat along the rivers in the Fens.

Also, the current proposal did seek to upgrade the roads and install a roundabout at the top junction of Fengate.

 

Reverend Patten raised a question about the temperatures the Olivine would work at, 6000 degrees centigrade was reported to be the highest temperature?

 

Chris Williams answered that hazardous products would be incinerated in plasma at 6000 degrees, however, Olivine waste would be incinerated at approximately 2500 degrees centigrade.

 

Simon Chiva asked if you would need to mix products to maintain those sorts of temperatures?

 

Chris Williams answered that it was dependent on the waste. For example, sewage would require low energy and therefore a low temperature. TyreÕs would require a high energy and therefore a high temperature.

 

Richard Astle stated that many of the questions from the GPP were around the community impact, what evidence was there about the effect on public health?

 

Chris Williams responded that the proposal had been verified by the Environment Agency who had given it a clean bill of health and that the proposal had been granted an Integrated Pollution Prevention Control (IPPC) Certificate.

 

Hugh Cripps asked what would happen if there was human error within the workings of the plant?

 

Chris Williams answered that human error would be avoided to the best of Global OlivineÕs ability and provisions were made in the risk management structure to deal with this.

 

5.              Sustainable Transport Strategy

 

                     Jamie Gray gave a presentation on the CouncilÕs Sustainable Transport Strategy.

 

                     Future events planned were:

-       European Mobility Week (23rd September)

-       In town without your car day (22nd September)

-       Travel Demonstration Town Conference

-       Travelchoice Roadshows

 

The group was supportive of the work being done by Jamie and his team.

Any members who wish to find out more about sustainable transport or wish to make any comments can contact Jamie at jamie.gray@peterborough.gov.uk.

 

6.              Partnership Agreement

                    

                     The group approved the amended partnership agreement.

 

7.                     AOB

 

Richard Olive circulated a statement from Peterborough Friends of the Earth on the Global Olivine application. The group discussed the statement and whether or not they endorsed it.

 

Following discussion it was agreed that the partnership would write to the Council asking that a public enquiry is called.

 

Action

Richard Olive to bullet point the partnershipÕs concerns, circulate to the partnership for approval and then forward to the Council.

 

Following the meeting, the chairman received the attached statement from Ian Arbon, a distinguished consulting engineer based in Peterborough, who has been acting as an independent adviser to PREL/Global Olivine.