A RESPONSE from W C Watts Ltd to Ryedale District Council’s planning recommendation regarding the proposed asphalt plant, Whitewall Quarry, Norton.

On behalf of W C Watts limited, I would like to be given the opportunity to respond to the points raised in the report from the district planning committee. From the outset, this application has been plagued with the objectors action groups ability to find public platforms to express views based on personal opinion and not fact regarding the operation of an asphalt plant.

The group managed to display their recent “flyers” showing an operational plant emitting steam from the aggregate drying process with the statement “a cloud of emissions which may threaten our health and livelihoods” in many local business premises. They have been able to express their views through several media outlets, broadcasting opinions rather than factual evidence.

This propaganda has created a virtual hysteria against the application as people tend to believe what they read. The previously mentioned “flyers” even found their way to the notice board of the local authority’s Community Sports Centre. Based on this, if the action group is successful in persuading a planning committee to reject our application perhaps they will then focus their attention towards trying to close the North York Moors Railway if steam is a concern.

It must be stressed that the plant depicted in these posters by no way represents our proposal, and operates under old legislation due to its age. If successful, our production facility would operate a state-of-the-art filtration system to meet stringent emission guidelines.

It should also be stressed that while it is portrayed that local residents and businesses are overwhelmingly against the plans, Alan Goforth, minerals planning officer for North Yorkshire County Council has received nearly 70 letters of support for the scheme from local businesses and residents.

Air quality will be monitored and operate well within guidelines set by the Environment Agency and the local authority.

The operation of an asphalt plant has never been proven to have a negative effect on the health of people working within the industry, never mind the general public.

Across the UK, asphalt plants are located in urban areas with much greater concentrations of population than at Whitewall, without issue Modern asphalt plants are clean, virtually odourless due to bitumen technology, cause no threat to public health and are essential to the infrastructure of the country.

It is our aim to route vehicles away from the air quality management zone wherever possible and to direct vehicles via Brambling Fields in order to minimise any impact extra movements will make.

The only asphalt plants current operating in North Yorkshire are situated in the Craven area, 60 miles from Norton and further to service North East Yorkshire.

If air quality is a genuine concern for people, why are residents content to have vehicles travelling countless miles across Yorkshire to service much-needed road repairs in the Ryedale area. Many of which already pass through Norton and Malton.

WC Watts remain committed to employing local people, but needs to constantly look at ways to ensure the future of this site that has provided jobs in the area for more than 50 years.

The site currently provides employment for 23 people directly, a number we would not only like to safeguard, but to add to with the proposed plant.

Contrary to the beliefs of the objectors, we are not trying to threaten livelihoods, we are trying to secure livelihoods and create jobs.

Julian Franks, business development manager at WC Watts

 

• WE would like to thank the 100 local residents who turned out to the planning committee meeting at Ryedale District Council on Tuesday, March 11, to oppose the asphalt plant application at Whitewall Quarry, Norton.

The level of concern in the community was evident, and we are sure this helped significantly in achieving the unanimous decision by the committee to recommend the application for refusal to North Yorkshire County Council.

We firmly oppose the proposed development because it will markedly increase traffic in our already congested towns, it will emit harmful emissions into our environment and cause an unacceptable noise impact for local residents.

However, North Yorkshire County Council will make the final decision, which following the recommendation by Ryedale District Council, has been deferred until their committee meeting on May 13, at 10am.

Anyone wishing to object can do so right up until this date, and we also hope as many people as possible will attend this meeting.

Councillor Luke Ives and Norton Action Group