John Pennie (Liaison Group Chairman), Robert Macfarlane (Chairman Sandhoe Parish Council), Egger Staff - Matthias Veile (Director of Works Manager), Paul Turner (Factory Manager) and Andrew Billings (Construction Manager).
Bill Grigg (Clerk to Sandhoe Parish Council), Simon Dotlinger (Production and Technical Director) and Jean Fearon (Northumberland County Council)
1) The general view is that the key focus is the noise abatement measures that are still needed for the log handling machinery. Nick Barrett as regulator is due to visit the site on 10th February and his views will be critical. Jenny Green in Planning has said that once the regulator and Egger are happy with a scheme for noise reduction, formal plans can be submitted to her, and it is believed that she has powers within the existing recent consent to give a further consent as an administrative act by her, though this would need clarification. In essence, all noise could be baffled by fully enclosing the plant, but that would have a severely detrimental effect operationally. So a balance needs to be struck between further baffling of the noise and the efficient operation of the plant. A scheme that looks at a series of progressive baffling and abatement measures has been designed and costed, and a budget has been set aside for it. All that is now needed is a working consensus with the regulator as to whether the proposed measures should be tried – and then planning consent will be sought. Part of the problem lies in the unpredictability of irritating tonalities but this is being worked on.
2) If the regulator and Egger can reach consensus, the planning process is likely to be under way in March and it is likely that the alterations will have been made by the summer. Ideally by mid June. Egger recognise that until there is guaranteed compliance with the noise level limits there is no prospect of resuming nighttime working. Fortunately there is not much commercial pressure to resume 24 hours a day working on account of the economic downturn, so there is time enough to get the noise abatement right.
3) Plans are in the development stage to build a sawmill at
Egger’s plant on the Ayrshire coast at Barony. This sawmill will be able to
supply chips and off-cuts to Egger in Hexham as well as in Barony. It addresses
the need to be in greater control of the supply of the basics now that the
biofuels market is showing such keen interest in the same products. The good news
for Hexham and noise levels is that the sawmill is to be sited in Ayrshire not
here.
4) All other emissions that are subject to measurement are well within
their limits and not a cause of difficulties.
5) The tree screen around the plant is growing very healthily. The directors were also prepared to consider making a further contribution to tree planting for screening purposes in Oakwood/Anick (A budget of £2000 to £2500 was agreed for this).
6) The start of work on the site to the east of the main site is
not yet in prospect and will wait economic upturn.
7) 450 people are now employed at the plant in Hexham.
8) The next meeting will be 5.30 on Thursday 10th June and
will include a site visit to the log handling area to note the changes
John Pennie
Chairman