Concern over plans to expand Whitwell plant

A MAJOR development to expand Whitwell Works will see a 50 per cent reduction in dust emissions from the plant’s chimney.

Nearby residents concerned with the amount of dust coming from the Southfield Lane site put their questions to both Lafarge and applicants Steetly Dolomite at the Hodthorpe Club.

Plans to erect a preheater unit, bag filter unit and ancillary plant and equipment will be decided on by Derbyshire County Council’s planning committee on Monday.

Belph resident John Moore, from Millwood Lane, lives less than half a mile from the plant and said the area has been ‘plagued’ with dust for years.

“It’s bad enough now we don’t want it to get any worse, especially during construction,” he said. “We’ve had a dust monitor put in our garden for Steetly to assess the problem.”

“It gets in the carpets and is visible around the house and on the cars outside. It seems no-one wants to take responsibility. Where’s the dust coming from?” he asked.

His wife Marilynn suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - a narrowing of the airways - which is being ‘aggravated’ by the current situation.

“The dust comes out of the chimney and gets everywhere,” she said. “I’m having to use a lot more inhalers - it’s worsening my condition.”

Representatives from Steetly said they were investing £8 million to reduce the level of emissions from the chimney but had no control over the amount of dust coming from the quarry.

MD John Cargill said the plans will reduce the ‘minimal amount of dust’ coming from the chimney.

“The dust from the chimney go up 300ft and goes miles away from here. The biggest source of local dust is from the lorries that drag it up.”

“It’s essential the lorries come out of the site clean.”

Lafarge estates manager David Atkinson told residents: “If there’s a problem speak to the guys on site - they will deal with that. If you are not happy with us you can contact councillors and the county council who are usually quick to let us know.”

If the plans are passed at Monday’s meeting, construction is scheduled to be completed by August 2013.

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