I was disappointed by the decision to give the go ahead for the expansion of East Kent Recycling’s plant at Oare Creek. I was strongly opposed to the development along with the town council, parish council, and local people.
The development was granted permission with several conditions – including limiting the number of HGV movements to 80 per day and restricting the size of lorries that can access the site.
The conditions attached to the development are badly needed to limit the environmental risks of expanding the plant – particularly noise and air pollution. But rules are only as strong as the enforcement that goes with them.
People are concerned that existing restrictions are being flouted and they doubt these new limits will work in practice. East Kent Recycling needs to stick to the rules.
I have written to Kent County Council to call for a robust complaints and inspection system to be put in place and I have asked the Environment Agency to introduce noise and air quality targets to give people certainty about what counts as pollution at the site.
Complaints from local people must be heard and KCC and the Environment Agency need to act if the rules are being broken. We need enforcement bodies with teeth.
