Contact: Peter Chadwick, ext. 6728, Email: [email protected]

1. Summary

This report advises the panel on the latest position at the Manor Farm (Efford) Gravel Pit and Landfill site.

2. Extraction and landfill progress

The current position regarding gravel extraction is that the working is within Phase 4D. This is the final phase of gravel extraction within Efford. All the archaeological investigation work was carried out last summer prior to extraction commencing, in accordance with the planning conditions. In addition the clay/bentonite cut off wall was constructed around Phase 4D prior to extraction commencing.

Within Phase 4A (Cells 9, 10 and 11) tipping has been completed, the cells capped and restored .

Phase 4B and 4C comprises Cells 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17. Tipping within Cell 12 has been completed and it is awaiting capping and final restoration. Cells 13 and 14 have been partly filled, the current tipping is within Cells 15 and 16. It is anticipated the tipping in these four Cells will be completed this year. Cell 17 is awaiting engineering prior to tipping.

3. Pollution Management Scheme

The County Council's pollution control measures have been completed. The clay/Bentonite wall around the previously tipped land (Phases 1, 2 and 3) was installed last year. These Phases have been recontoured and capped, and the leachate control and landfill gas infrastructure has been installed. The areas have been reinstated.

The leachate treatment plant has been completed and is fully operational. The new gas flare, next to the leachate plant, was installed at the end of last year, but has not yet been commissioned. Therefore the temporary flare is still in operation. The gas utilisation plant, to generate electricity, granted planning permission last year will be installed in the next few months.

4. Water Management Scheme

Condition 14 of Planning Permission 70056 at Manor Farm (Efford) requires the submission of a Water Management Scheme for the approval of the Waste Planning Authority in writing.

The Water Management Scheme was originally submitted in 1999, and was subject to comments and collection of further data and monitoring. Last year the `Marshes Group' was formed comprising English Nature, Environment Agency, Countryside Service (managers of the adjoining nature reserve) and Ecology (Environment Department). The group looked at the water requirements for the Marshes, to assist in the preparation of a revised Water Management Scheme which addressed the issues raised following the previous submission. The Water Management Scheme is supported by a report `Investigation of proposed surface water management scheme run-off characteristics.'

The revised Water Management Scheme was submitted in August 2003 and includes provision for a new discharge into the River Avon (subject to the necessary consents and evaluation by the Environment Agency), continuation of the existing discharge to the Marshes in the interim, the continuation of the recharge trench, limited on site water storage (Eastern and South Western ponds and sunken highway), management of drainage of the site whilst operational and on completion, and monitoring. The Water Management Scheme has also been designed on the basis of off site water storage (Iley Lane Lake, and 5 Acre Lake) although these are subject to separate planning permissions and are not subject to planning permission 70056.

The Scheme has been designed to achieve not only satisfactory operational drainage and water management, but also water management, both surface water and through recharge, to the adjacent marshes in the interests of nature conservation.

The members of the `Marshes Group' were consulted on the submission and the Water Management Scheme has been approved subject to revisions to address technical issues raised by the County Councils hydrogeological consultants. The Scheme includes provision for monitoring, and subsequent revision if required.

The Water Management Scheme has been approved, subject to some revision on technical issues and programme of review.

In order to fully implement the Water Management Scheme additional infrastructure and consents will be necessary. In particular consent to discharge to the River Avon and for the necessary infrastructure, which is an issue for the Environment to determine. Also there is the need for off site storage at 5 Acre Lake, the details for which are under discussion with New Milton Sand and Ballast as a requirement of their planning permission.

The Water Management Scheme as approved under the planning condition covers the site during gravel extraction, tipping, restoration and aftercare for 5 years. Therefore an important remaining issue for the County Council concerns long term management beyond the aftercare period.

Recommendations

The report be noted.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB the list excluded :

1. Published works.

2. documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

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