Call for Ferrybridge energy plant and council to take action over roads “covered in plastic”
It's after litter was left close to the Enfinium plant in Knottingley
Last updated 6 hours ago
A town’s roads have been left “covered in plastic” from vehicles accessing an energy production plant, a meeting heard.
A councillor urged Wakefield Council and site operator Enfinium to take action to stop the problem impacting residents in Knottingley.
Rachel Speak told the local authority’s environment scrutiny committee how the issue had been ongoing in her ward for around three years despite both organisations being sent video footage of litter strewn across roads and grass verges around the site.
She said: “We continually have to live in a town with our roads covered in plastic.
“For three years I have fought to get clean-ups done.
“I’m lucky to get it done once a year but within weeks of that clean-up it’s back to the same position for the rest of the year.
“The problem is where it is coming from.
“I have sent footage of it coming out of wagons and I have got to the point where I don’t know where to go to get the actual problem dealt with.”
Enfinium is one of the UKs leading energy-from-waste operators.
The company’s Ferrybridge site processes around 725,000 tonnes of waste a year and produces enough energy to meet the needs of up to 170,000 homes and businesses.
Coun Speak said she had previously contacted the council’s chief executive Tony Reeves and requested a meeting with officers over the matter.
She added: “This has been going on for so long now.
“I want it to be picked up and dealt with because its a problem that people continuously complain about.
“We are doing litter picks but it is absolutely pointless.”
Lou Redpath, the council’s service director for environmental services, said: “I absolutely understand your frustration around this.
“I apologise that things have not been done properly in the past.
“I don’t think people have concentrated enough on this area at all.
“It’s not just about clearing the litter, it’s about actually tackling it at source.
“I don’t think our relationship with Enfinium has been as good as what it could have been.”
Ms Redpath said she had recently met with the company’s chief executive to discuss the issue.
She said: “I want to be completely open and transparent that there is no formal agreement in place.
“It is being done on an ad hoc basis, rather than anything that is being done in agreement.
“I can only apologise that that hasn’t been communicated well enough in the past.
“I would like to make sure that we have an agreement in place.”
Ms Redpath said she had requested that two clean-ups are carried out annually, with the cost being split between the council and the operator.
Committee members were also told that the council had a new strategic waste manager who was working closely with Enfinium.
Coun Speak said: “I feel like a private investigator.
“I have been told that I have got to get footage to get proof of what is happening. It is ridiculous really – the proof is right there.
“It’s all the way down the carriageway.”
“It shouldn’t be your problem. I have said this to Enfinium. They are creating that problem and they should be contributing.”
Ms Redpath replied: “You can see it with your own eyes. You don’t need footage, it’s not necessary. We should have a regular cleaning schedule in place.”
A spokesperson for Enfinium said: “Enfinium, as a responsible energy-from-waste operator, works closely with its partners and local authority customers to minimise the impact of its operations on local communities.
“This includes the transport of waste, which is undertaken by third parties on our partners’ behalf.
“We have been working closely with Wakefield Council to provide funding for litter picking on the highways near our Ferrybridge facility and hold regular community liaison meetings to identify and address community issues.
“We welcome continued engagement with the council and our partners on this matter.”