Meeting Minutes - Tuesday 3rd May 2005

Present:
Dave Rees (Regional Manager Scotland - WRG), Clive Young (Site Manager - WRG), Richard Witney (Roslin), Catherine Longville-Taylor (Roslin), Bryden Ritchie (Roslin Heritage Society), Malcolm Tait (Roslin), David Campbell (SEPA), Mike Smith (SEPA), Chris Ratcliffe (Regional Estates Manager - WRG), Ian McDonald (Carl Bro Technical Director - Waste Section), Siobhan Samsom (Planning Development Officer - Friends of the Earth)

Apologies:
Frances Goodfellow (Roslin), Lynn Macfadyen (Bilston), Rob Maxtone-Graham (Auchendinny), John Sharp (Roslin)

Action
1 Introductions

2 Changes to the restoration plan

The meeting was called to discuss WRG's changes to the current planning application which enforces the restoration of the site.

The current restoration plan which will be used when the site closes in 2010 states that the site height will not exceed 175 (Above Ordinace Datum (AOD). The Waste Management Paper states no falls greater than 1m in 25m.

WRG stated that the restoration plan may have to change because of the change in waste landfilled. This waste type has changed from largely industrial (demolition waste) to household waste. This change in waste type means that there will be increased settlement of the site.

In order to prevent this increased settlement causing problems of water pooling on top of the restored site, WRG proposes to surcharge waste (increase the height of the waste). This would mean the max height of the site increasing to 180m AOD and would mean 500,000 tonnes of extra waste being landfilled at the site. This site closure would still be 2010 at the latest.

WRG's site licence at present allows 250,000 tonnes of waste to be landfilled per year. It was unclear at the meeting how this extra 500,000 tonnes of waste could be dealt with at the site. WRG stated that they could apply for a licence with an increase in tonnage to finish the site.

SEPA stated that they would be concerned with odour and dust problems from stripping back the protective membrane of the phase 2 which is now capped.

3 Open day

It was agreed by the group that WRG progress with an Open Day at the site prior to submitting the planning application to change the restoration plan and applying for increased tonnages. This should be used to effectively consult with the local community and give them an opportunity to see what goes on at the site. WRG is to produce a leaflet which can be mailed to the local communities of Roslin, Auchendinny and Bilston. The Liaison Group also agreed that this leaflet would be a good way of raising the profile of the community group.

WRG to liaise with community council re distribution of leaflet.

WRG
4 Community Council
WRG expressed concern that the community council is not involved in the liaison group.
The group is to write to the community council and encourage participation.

8 Date of next meeting - Tuesday 21st June 7pm (Oatslie Site Office)