Residents fear traffic and odour issues over plans for Boston landfill site

RESIDENTS living close to a proposed treatment facility for polluted water from landfill have raised concerns about traffic and odour issues.

FCC Environment has applied to Lincolnshire County Council for permission to create a lagoon-based leachate treatment system at the Boston landfill site off Slippery Gowt Lane in Wyberton.

If approved, the plans would not only allow for on-site treatment of leachate produced at the site but also provide a treatment facility for leachate from sites in Skegness and Kings Lynn.

Marsh Lane resident Walter Chitoriski, told the Target he had only recently been made aware of the application but was worried it would exacerbate existing traffic issues.

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He said: "We are on the edge of the industrial estate and each year new units are opening.

"I've been told there could be nine tankers a week coming to the site, so that's 18 more vehicle movements.

"There's no parking down Marsh Lane and it's not wide enough. When the bungalows were first built there wasn't an industrial estate there."

Residents Roger and Molly Fixter have also raised concerns about the plans.

Mrs Fixter, said: "We are concerned about this dirty water getting into water courses. We are also questioning about the smell, especially in the summer, if we have acres of dirty water.

"It seems the traffic will be pretty dreadful, it's only a narrow lane and we already have lots of articulated lorries go up and down."

County Councillor for Boston South, Paul Skinner, raised concerns about the location of the site and urged residents to make their objections heard.

He said: "My principle concern with this development is where it is located. Silt Pit Lane as its name suggests - silt isn't really the sort of material you would choose to house a lagoon. I'm really concerned if they don't get the groundwork right it could get into the water and into The Wash and there could be untold environmental damage."

Residents have until Friday to submit their comments on the plans.

A spokesperson for FCC Environment said: "We have developed a system in consultation with the Environment Agency whereby the leachate, the polluted water that collects at the bottom of landfill sites, will be collected and stored in a lagoon before being naturally biologically treated and then used to irrigate a fast-growing willow coppice planted on the landfill site.

"After approximately three to five years of growth, the coppice is harvested and used as a fuel, at offsite facilities, in the generation of renewable electricity thus reducing

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the use of fossil fuels. The entire system is self-contained and includes a number of safeguards to ensure the water remains within the system and does not escape into the surrounding environment.

"Treating leachate sustainably on site means we do not have to transport it to other facilities by road.

"We have a number of similar operations at other landfill sites around the country and odour is not associated with this particular process."

Boston Borough Councillor for South Ward, Alison Austin, said: "I represent residents in two sensitive areas. Those living on Heron Way need to be sure that this development will not cause any offensive odour or other environmental pollution.

"Residents of Marsh Lane itself suffer the ongoing consequences of the heavy lorries passing their homes every day.

"These people have a right to be protected and if this development is to go ahead I expect there to be appropriate compensation to mitigate the effect of yet more heavy vehicles waiting at the traffic lights alongside their homes."