RESIDENTS living near a proposed household waste site have called for tighter monitoring of construction work.
As reported on Wednesday, thousands of tonnes of rubbish could be dumped at Lane Side Quarry in Kirkheaton.
Rochdale company P Casey Enviro Ltd has been issued a draft permit to use the quarry for landfill.
The site has been used to quarry clay, coal and brick making materials and was used as landfill in the 1970s and 80s.
The Environment Agency is currently running a public consultation on the proposal, but is expected to issue a full permit in September.
More than a dozen residents met with officials from the agency at Kirkheaton Parish Centre to hear more details about the plan – and some said they were concerned about preparation work happening at the site right now.
One man, who did not want to be named, said his house had been devalued by £¼m by the proposal and his garden had already been flooded by run-off from the site.
The resident also complained about noise from the site, and said he was worried about a large pond that had been built above a public footpath.
He said: “I’m not against this site, but they are firing away with preparations without Environment Agency approval.
“I understand the banging and tapping will cease, but my concern is about the banking.
“They’ve built it up about 60 or 70 feet in the air. There’s a walkway below. If that gives in and floods it I just hope I’m not there with my grandchildren.”
But Environment Agency permitting officer, Mike Keast, said the agency had no jurisdiction as the company wasn’t doing any work relating to its pending refuse permit.
Mr Keast said the agency was not allowed on site until the permit was issued, but would then have a third party agent monitoring the construction.
He added: “Landfill sites need to be designed to last for 150 years, so we need to be really rigorous about it, which is why (the project) has taken so long.
“In doing that we’ve ensured the best techniques to protect the environment have been used. We will ensure the compliance of the operator to the conditions set in this permit.”
Mr Keast’s colleague, Max Folkett, told residents the site featured a number of safety measures to prevent any pollution to the surrounding area.
He said: “Modern landfill isn’t just a hole in the ground, there’s a lot more to it than that.”
Mr Folkett said the site was being lined to prevent leakage and would feature drainage and gas extraction features.
And he revealed that any refuse deposited will be covered with soil at the end of every day to reduce bad smells and prevent pests.
Tony Barry, from Caseys, was not available to comment as he is on holiday.
The company also upset Mirfield councillors, who look after areas bordering the site.
They were given the wrong date for the liaison meeting and Clr Martyn Bolt said they had now been given an apology and a promise of another meeting.
A spokeswoman from Kirklees Council said: “The council has in the past monitored the site and will continue to do so.”
