Campaigners leave meeting about controversial Northampton recycling centre saying they have more questions than answers

A Northampton mother-of-three has come out of a meeting with a national construction firm about its waste recycling centre near her home, in Lower Ecton Lane, saying she has more questions than answers.

Sheryl Hadfield, 44, attended an online meeting with Mick George on Wednesday (February 24) about its waste recycling centre in Lower Ecton Lane. Representatives from Northampton Borough Council's environmental health team, Northampton County Council, the Environment Agency and Northampton's Labour leader, Danielle Stone, were also in attendance.

Sheryl has previously said the site is "making her life a misery" as Mick George has extended its warehouse over the last 14 years to a much larger operation than when it first moved into the area in 2007.

Mick George is now seeking retrospective planning permission from Northampton County Council for further extensions to the site, with NCC's Jason Smithers saying this was "not an acceptable way to conduct matters".Not only did Sheryl have concerns with the retrospective planning application Mick George submitted this month, but she also serious concerns over the company's handling of waste material, with the amount of dust travelling through the air.

Other residents in the area have also shown their support for Sheryl in recent weeks, including the nearby school and an Ecton village resident.

Speaking after the meeting, Sheryl said: “I'm pleased we had the meeting and pleased with what all the agencies have agreed to do. Mick George said it was willing to put some dust monitors up and NBC promised to put air diffusers up.

"I'm happy there are things being done but there is still a lot more to be answered, we are just touching the surface at the moment. More needs to be looked into.

"I'm still really angry that nothing has been said or done about the extension. I asked for the work to be halted. All I was told was that the retrospective planning application has to go through the process for approval or rejection. I was told the work cannot be stopped.

"But the ball is rolling and some tests are going to be done."

A Northampton Borough Council (NBC) spokesperson explained what it is looking into to manage the air quality in the area.

An NBC spokesperson said: “As part of our routine air quality monitoring across the town, which is undertaken under our air quality monitoring programme, we are exploring the option of introducing some passive nitrogen dioxide diffusion tubes in the Lower Ecton Lane area.

"These are to look at vehicle emissions on the general highway around Crow Lane and Lower Ecton Lane, and are not directly linked to the Mick George site.”

Sheryl also wanted to highlight the issues surrounding "low grade permits" which came up in the meeting and are issued by the Environment Agency.

She said: "Low grade permits were mentioned by Mick George which they said means they don't have to do any tests. I asked about all the tonnes of recycling and waste material outside the warehouse don't have to be tested?

"I don't think this area should be classed as low grade, it's a residential area. There's also a school nearby which the dust could travel to and impact a lot of children. There's a nursery close by, too. But because there is a low grade permit for the site that means there are no regular tests, that needs to change.

"These tests need to happen all of the time. There is still a lot to talk about and do. I want life on Ecton Park and all around us to be better for everyone.”

It has been reported that the representative from Mick George described its permit as a low grade permit during yesterday’s meeting. This is not the case – the site holds a bespoke environmental permit.

An Environment Agency spokesperson said: “Mick George Limited holds a bespoke environmental permit which enables them to store and treat non-hazardous waste. Treatment activities include screening, crushing, sorting, shredding and baling.

"The permit also allows them to store specific hazardous waste including clinical waste. The permit contains conditions which details how each of these waste types are managed to minimise the risk of pollution.”

Labour leader Danielle Stone outlined the conclusions drawn by each party from the meeting.

She said: "After much discussion there was agreement that Mick George will carry out dust monitoring over time and in different weather conditions. The results will be shared.

"The Environment Agency has agreed they will carry out monitoring checks on the impact of Mick George on the Ecton Park site. Northampton Borough Council has agreed to place air quality diffusers around the site. Mick George has agreed that Mrs Hadfield and I can visit the site and look at the operations."

Cllr Stone added: “I was pleased to be at the meeting with Sheryl and pleased all the agencies were there. Sheryl has done a good job on behalf of her communities.

"I don’t understand why the waste site was approved in 2007 so close to residencies.

"An outstanding issue is road safety. Ecton Lane is very busy and the children have to walk to school using the road as there is no pavement. I will be taking that up with Highways.”

The Environment Agency spokesperson added that it "conducts regular assessments" at sites like Mick George "where necessary".

The spokesperson said: “The Environment Agency regulates a number of permitted waste facilities within the vicinity of Lower Ecton Lane. Some of these facilities store and treat soil and stones for onward use, including the Mick George site. We conduct regular assessments and suggest improvements at these sites where necessary.

“If any members of the public want to report an environmental incident they can call our incident hotline number on 0800 807060 and we will investigate.”

Mick George was approached for comment but has not yet responded. This newspaper is also awaiting a response Northamptonshire County Council.