Minutes
of Egger Liaison Committee meeting 27 November 2008 at Egger factory Hexham
(Transcript for Sandhoe Parish Council)
Present
Simon
Dotlinger (Production
and Technical Director), Matthias Veile (Director of Works Manager),
Paul Turner (Factory Manager) and Andrew Billings (Construction Manager). Robert
Macfarlane the chairman of the Parish Council, John Pennie parish councillor
with special brief for Egger matters ( in the chair); Bill Grigg the clerk to the PC; and Neil Fearon District
Councillor. Apology: Jean Fearon
County Councillor.
1 Trees. The planting program has started.
John Pennie will arrange with Paul Dancer of Smiths Gore the best way for the
agreed monies to be paid across to Smiths Gore so that they can pay the
contractor, Philip Herdman and also pay the Beaufront Castle Estate the £3000
endowment fee. John Pennie will advise Simon Dotlinger of the outcome of the
conversation with Paul Dancer. Simon Dotlinger confirmed that he saw no problems
in this regard.
2 John Pennie will be meeting the representative of
the Hexham Mart so as to agree the final planting scheme for their field - they
had wanted to wait until the leaves had fallen this Winter before finalising
their agreement for their field bordering the road form Oakwood to Camillus
Bank .
3 Old Plant. SD reported that the dismantling
of the old plant is on track. Care is being taken with the dismantling because
some of the equipment is being sold to an overseas buyer for re-use. It is due
to be completed by the end of the Winter i.e. probably by March 2009.
4 Log Handling The filing of the new log
handling plant planning application and allied applications is imminent
and it is believed that the degree of consultation that has been undertaken
with the planners at Tynedale, and with other regulators, will mean that
this time the application proceeds smoothly. In anticipation of still being
able to adhere to the earlier critical dates for installation, the plant is on
order with a view to installation during the period January-April 2009.
SD and his team are fully confident that it operate
within the existing noise limits and they recognise the very dire consequences
if it fails to do so.
5 Operating hours The existing log
handling plant has not been operating between 22 30 and 06 30 since late August
2008. SD sees no likelihood of night-time working in the immediate future and
hopes that it may never recur once the new more efficient plant is installed.
The new plant shows a substantial energy saving and this has appealed to
management on account of its lower cost and the further improvement to
the business’ Green credentials .
6 New Building the
planning application for the new building has been the subject of significant
consultation with the authorities. It is anticipated by Egger that it will be
the subject of a decision in late January 2009 and that, if approved,
construction may not start at once but may be deferred for a period. There was
discussion about the noise abatement measures, and assurances were given that
while the activities inside the new building were likely to create noise, the
design was intended to deliver a large measure of noise attenuation. It would
not be working at night. The design of the roof lights was intended to contain
noise emissions , whilst maximising the entry of natural daylight into the
building .
MMVIII - SPC