The Echo writes about the West Rayleigh Sewage Works here, and the proposed increased powers for the Leader of the Council here.
There are some interesting comments at the bottom of the articles. But more importantly, the Echo’s involvement plus the efforts of Rawreth Parish Council – and maybe Chris’ question to Full Council – seems to be getting through to Anglian Water:
Sewage cake is the leftover from treated sewage and is used in farms as fertilizer. Collette Nicholls, a spokeswoman from Anglian Water, said the company is aware there have been lorries leaving the plant which have been uncovered.
She said: “We are working with the contractor to make sure this does not happen. They know that they should not do this. We are concerned that they have been using uncovered vehicles.”
Do they have to refer to it as Sewage CAKE??!! Seriously though, worth taking registration numbers if you see them and reporting to Collette.
Over a year ago I was in contact with the sewage works and they told me on numerous occasions that ‘these skips should always be covered’, ‘they could lose their contracts if they were not covered’, ‘let us know with registration numbers and we will deal with it’, etc., etc., etc.. Nothing but a load of lies. Collette Nicholls – ‘working with the contractors’, ‘concerned that they have been using uncovered vehicles’ (Echo 21st April) I was told that a year ago. I even telephoned when one (of the many) of these uncovered skips came past my house, again, on numerous occasions, so that they could stop the skips as they arrived at the Works, and still the situation did not improve. Trevor, yes, stop calling it ‘cake’ it is what it is ‘xxxx’ and calling it cake doesn’t alter that. Basically, nobody gives a damn. Oops! Sorry, local elections coming up!!!!! Pretend to give a damn. The Council is always banging on about environmental issues, but still expect us to put up with this. Sorry, but if you want people to work together on this, it has to work both ways.
Gloria, I don’t speak for the District Council but yes I do want people to work together on this, and yes , the council really needs to get its act together on this and yes, some of us do give a damn…. But clearly we haven’t done enough yet.
By posing a written question we’ll get the focussed attention of 30-odd councillors on Thursday night, many of whom will barely believe this this sort of thing happens.
As for the local elections , there are no elections in Rawreth now, I have submitted the question now after being phoned by a resident ….
If you can leave a comment here every time an uncovered lorry goes past, that will help, especially if you can give the time and the description. We need residents info to get at the truth.
For example I’ve been told tonight that 99 percent of the usual contractor’s vehicles have automatic sheeting. Do you think that is true?
If Collette Nicholls agrees it’s happening and shouldn’t, then she should be “Targetted” with ALL the details – Time it pass through and Reg No of Vehicle. She can then act on the culprit(s). If we record each time she is contacted too, she has nowhere to go, but to stop this – Her number is 0870 600 5600.
Trevor and Chris
Last year I telephoned Anglian Water as the lorries came past, as they were going to fast and, sometimes, number plates too dirty to record them and said that a lorry would be arriving there in approximately 1/2 minutes uncovered, catch him – nothing. Thank you for that number Trevor, if I can’t get the registration number, I can certainly advise her of the time and date.
The other thing about the ‘sheeting’ is that covered or uncovered, empty or full, the smell is unbearable. This ‘excrement’ should be ‘contained’ in a sealed skip of some kind. Surely it isn’t beyond the capabilities of the people in charge to ensure that only a sealed lorry is used.
Trevor and Chris
Last year I telephoned Anglian Water as the lorries came past, as they were going to fast and, sometimes, number plates too dirty to record them and said that a lorry would be arriving there in approximately 1/2 minutes uncovered, catch him – nothing. Thank you for that number Trevor, if I can’t get the registration number, I can certainly advise her of the time and date.
The other thing about the ‘sheeting’ is that covered or uncovered, empty or full, the smell is unbearable. This ‘excrement’ should be ‘contained’ in a sealed skip of some kind. Surely it isn’t beyond the capabilities of the people in charge to ensure that only a sealed lorry is used.
Their practice is COMPLETELY un-acceptable in this modern world. As you say, this waste should be transported in ONLY completely sealed Container lorries as Petrol is. The same laws should apply to both.
There has to be some way to bring these guy to book. If Anglian Water wont do anything about this and if the Council are powerless (?) then maybe the regulator should be informed and they may take action against Anglian Water, as they basically employ the guys who transport this stuff. Failing that I am sure the National newspapers would have a field day and then Anglian would look even worse. I am sure this would work. At least we would get more done than is being done at the moment. Anglian Water may be loking at a very big fine here. There is also the Department of the Environment and the Environment Agency. Might all be worth looking at?
Agreed Mike OR There’s always – Email: watchdog@bbc.co.uk