Thank you to everyone who provided feedback comments during our public engagement earlier in the summer. There were a number of key themes identified in the engagement feedback which are summarised here:
You Said, We Did
You said you were worried that traffic will queue outside the site waiting to get in
During July 2024 we monitored visitors to Midland Road and found that only 10% of users arrived without a booking. The booking system can be changed so that only a defined number of vehicles will enter the site per time slot allowing for +/- 10% and to manage traffic flows at different times of the day. Midland Road recycling centre is a very constrained site and manoeuvring issues sometimes cause blockages and occasionally users have to be held back while an HGV collects a full skip. These issues will not occur at the Locksbrook Rd site because the car park is larger and easier to navigate and operational vehicles use a separate entrance. Finally, we will fund an additional member of staff at the gate who will enforce the booking system and also help customers with mobility issues or heavy items.
You said you were concerned about potential odours and pests from the recycling centre
An Air Quality and Odour Assessment has been carried out which shows that impact of odour from the site will be ‘insignificant’ which is largely because there is no waste processing at the site nor any dedicated food waste collection facility and no refuse trucks will be stored at Locksbrook Road, as happened at Midland Road. However, in response to concerns raised, skip covers can be used to reduce both odours and the risk of vermin. Skips will also be changed frequently meaning waste will not be stored on the site for long. It is worth noting that the EA permit application process will require the site to adequately demonstrate that it has identified odour factors and taken all possible mitigation measures.
You said you were concerned about potential noise from the recycling centre
The layout has been designed so that the operational area is furthest from the existing residential properties. The EA permitting system will require a detailed description of all the mitigations relating to environmental factors. The noise assessment has acknowledged that noise will increase from the site but that this will be during the working day when noise levels area already higher. It has also identified a number of measures which can be taken such as noise barriers and using skips with plastic wheels.
You said you were worried about deteriorating air quality in the area caused by traffic fumes
The Air Quality and Odour Assessment Report states the impact of traffic from the site on pollution levels will be ‘negligible’. The council measures concentrations of nitrogen dioxide with diffusion tubes currently sited at several locations along Upper Bristol Road and one location on Newbridge Road, these can be viewed at: https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/nitrogen-dioxide-monitoring-data. Since monitoring began at these locations in 2019, the sites have shown continual decreases with concentrations for 2023 lower than the annual average objective of 40 µg/m3. These sites remain in place into 2024.
You said you were concerned about carrying recyclables up the steps or slope to get them into the skips
The proposed gantry arrangement is commonly used in similar facilities across the country. The project team has visited other sites with similar arrangements to inform the design of the proposed recycling centre. The incorporation of ramped access into the design is intended to ease access to the containers for those with mobility challenges, while additional support will be provided by site staff to customers who use wheelchairs, or those who have heavy items. The new recycling centre will have drop-off parking bays for 16 cars, including dedicated disabled parking located close to the bottom of the ramp.
You said you wanted to see better cycling and walking access to the site
We have widened the footpath into the site from Locksbrook Road and a zebra crossing had been added within the site. There is now also additional cargo bike parking.
Planning application
You can view all the planning application documents and provide formal comment on the plans on the council’s Planning Portal here.
The main planning document is the Design & Access Statement, which you can download here.