Garston Docks used as a waste disposal site

[Bay City]

There has been notification that the council are considering proposals for a massive waste disposal plant on Garston docks. The local residents are obviously up in arms about this and are in the process of registering opposition to the planning proposal.

It is called a "resource recovery plant" on Stalbridge Dock, Garston

Anyone know any more?

[andy_01]

I sort of remember hearing about this a year or so ago (if it's the same one). This is an article from the echo and it was the last I heard of it.

City in line for hi-tech ‘cooker’ to beat waste

Sep 10 2007 by Neil Hodgson, Liverpool Echo

A MASSIVE American-style waste recycling plant is planned for Garston Docks.

West Midlands-based Jack Allen Holdings is proposing to build several plants around the UK, including one in Liverpool.

The company said the multi-million pound operation would create 75 jobs in the area and help the city meet environmental targets.

The plant would be the UK’s first development using the US-based technology that “cooks” household waste, rather than incinerating it.

Business development manager Peter Coe said: “Metals come out clean, plastics come out as pebbles, the rest is a fibrous material that can be made into chipboard or mixed with plastics to make things like road signs, decking or bus shelters.”

Alternatively, the sterilised waste can be “digested” and turned into a compost-like material for use in soft landscaping, or converted into a gas which can be used to produce electricity and power the whole plant.

Mr Coe said it could handle the whole of Liverpool’s household rubbish.

Stringent European recycling rules due to come into effect in 2009 could result in millions of pounds of fines for councils which fail to cut back on the amount of waste sent to landfill or hit recycling targets.

Mr Coe said the proposed plant will help Liverpool meet those targets.

The firm has been undertaking public consultation over the past week, explaining the process to residents and councillors.

Richard Oglethorpe, Lib Dem councillor for nearby Cressington ward, saw what the plant could do and said: “This is a very big development and people need to be aware of what is being proposed and have their say.

“There are advantages like bringing more employment and treating waste, but equally, it is a big building and there could be issues with more traffic in the area and smells, although the developers say not.”

Cllr Oglethorpe said the plant could generate an extra 40 lorry movements an hour, on top of the existing 100 for normal dock traffic.

The developers hope to apply for planning permission in October and could be operational by late 2009.

[Tom Hughes]

Haven't they just built quite a large housing estate on a big chunk of that? It's also right next to Cressington Park with some of the city's big wigs who I would've thought wouldn't like it...... or is this development to be at the other end of the dock system nearer under-the-bridge garston? Would've thought Speke would have been a more suitable site, or maybe it's not as obtrusive as it sounds.

[Bay City]

Tom,

What they did was inquire about it last year and test the water, they even held a meeting which no one apparently attended because nobody knew anything about it. Now everybody around has had a letter saying that plans have been submitted and residents have until 8th October to register their views.

In Cressington nobody knows anything about it, so the council will have some questions to answer, especially as the Trustees of Cressington Park are now awake.

One of these plants was planned for Helsby, though their residents finally got rid of it, but not before they had gone through a number of Public Enquiries, which Peel Holdings raised. The last enquiry was in May this year, which kind of ties in with why they are probably now considering Garston.

The plans are now available to view on the Liverpool Council site. It is going to be massive and will dominate the whole of Garston’s shoreline. Between the docks and Speke.

It needs some joined up thinking. Large housing projects have been built around there. Garston Docks will remain, but for how long will they remain viable? There is talk of housing around the docks eventually, which is the best usage for them when the big ships stop entering the docks.

Also, the commercial estate at the old airport site next door is being considered by Royal Mail. A good site as they say rail lines will be run in - from where I don't know. From Garston Docks on the foreshore? From EFCs training ground around the back of JLA through fields and along the Speke foreshore? Also the air-sea freight terminal next door at JLA, which may be a bonus to Royal Mail. Then the proposals of a Maglev from Manchester airport to JLA. Will this massive complex hinder the progress of the area? Prevent rail connectivity and hinder future housing? Probably.

It is best to put this plant in the fields surrounded by trees, so way out of sight. It should not be in a foreshore location hindering future progress.

[Herr Rathbone]

Put it in Bootle.