FAQ's
- Where is the site?
- What is being proposed?
- What are the benefits of the Eastern Extension?
- What currently happens at the quarry?
- Why does the quarry need extending?
- Why is there a need for the extension to be restored by landfill?
- Why have you chosen to extend Dorket Head rather than consider alternative sites?
- Will it be noisy?
- Will it smell?
- Will it mean more traffic?
- Will I be able to see the Eastern Extension?
- Is any landscaping proposed?
- What are the proposed operating hours?
- Who is Ibstock?
- Who is WRG?
- What is involved in the planning process?
- How can I have my say on the proposals?
Where is the site?
The Dorket Head Brick Factory and Quarry is located approximately 7.5km North-East of Nottingham.
The brick factory is located on the western side of Calverton Road whilst the Quarry is located on the eastern side. The Quarry is bounded by Woodborough Lane to the north and to the south is the dense woodland screening planted by Ibstock many years ago.
What is being proposed?
The proposed Eastern Extension comprises three fields with a total of 11.7ha. Approximately, 7.4ha will be used for clay extraction, with the remainder accommodating amenity and landscaping works.
Once clay extraction has taken place, the site will be restored using landfill.
What are the benefits of the Eastern Extension?
The Eastern Extension will help to ensure the long-term viability of the Dorket Head Brick Factory, which employs 56 people and is one of the last remaining major employers in the area.
The Eastern Extension will provide a further nine years of clay for the production of bricks at the brick factory. This will, therefore, safeguard the works for a period of around 22 years.
The Eastern Extension will also help to minimise the transportation of clay by road by using supplies that are next to the existing quarry site and the established conveying system to transport clay to the brick factory beneath Calverton Road.
The landfill operations currently employ four permanent employees with between one and three contract staff also employed by demand. This represents further employment in the area associated with the operations at Dorket Head.
Restoration of the site by landfill will return the site to grassland with the creation of over 800 metres of tree and hedge planting along the perimeter of the site and 600 metres of tree-lined footpath will be created as part of the proposed diversion to the existing footpath that crosses the site.
Finally, the proposal will create additional landfill void which is currently in scarce supply within
the county.
What currently happens at the quarry?
Quarrying at the site has been progressing from the western extent of the site, nearest to Calverton Road, generally moving in an easterly direction.
Clay extraction from the quarry ‘face’ takes place in the summer months for only 6-8 weeks per year. Clay is taken to and stored in a stockpile near to the quarry. As clay is needed, it is removed from the stockpile and transported to the brick factory using a conveyor which passes beneath Calverton Road.
Once clay has been extracted, the worked-out parts of the quarry are shaped into ‘cells’ into which waste is tipped, compacted and covered with clay and soils. The site is then capped with a fully sealed plastic membrane over which soils are placed.
Restoration of the site is then completed with the planting of trees, shrubs, hedgerows and woodlands.
Why does the quarry need extending?
Reserves of clay at the brickworks are estimated to be only enough for a further 13 years production. Therefore, it is important to identify further reserves to maintain the brickworks and associated employment for the long-term.
The proposed Eastern Extension to the clay workings would increase the stock of reserves by a further nine years. Without the Eastern Extension, clay would need to be imported by road from further afield to keep the brickworks in production.
Why is there a need for the extension to be restored by landfill?
Since 2000, the amount of household waste produced in Nottinghamshire has been fairly consistent. During 2007/8 around 439,000 tonnes of household waste was collected, with 47% of this going to landfill.
Whilst increasing efforts are being made by local authorities to deal with waste more sustainably, including new recycling facilities and the use of energy recovery at facilities like WRG’s Eastcroft Incinerator in Nottingham, not all waste can be dealt with in this way.
Within Nottinghamshire, current landfill capacity is estimated to last a further four to five years and thus additional capacity needs to be identified now to provide a final disposal point beyond this time and to accord with Government policy.
The Government’s latest strategy on waste recognises that landfill will continue to play an important role in the management of waste and that there will continue to be an ongoing need for new landfill capacity as existing sites are filled.
By utilising the excavated area for landfill, WRG and Ibstock are able to restore the site to grassland, ensuring that the site is returned to a beneficial state, sympathetic with its surroundings, with the planting of trees, hedges, shrubs and woodland.
Why have you chosen to extend Dorket Head rather than consider alternative sites?
The decision has been taken to extend the Dorket Head site due to its close proximity to the brick factory. This minimises the transportation of clay by road, as the clay is moved to the brick factory on a conveyor that passes beneath Calverton Road.
By extending Dorket Head, Ibstock and WRG will be able to minimise disruption to the local community that would otherwise be caused by transporting clay over further distances.
Will it be noisy?
We do not expect operations at the site to be noisy at the nearest properties to the Eastern Extension.
Ibstock and WRG are in the process of conducting an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to assess the likely significance of any impacts arising through the proposals for the Eastern Extension. The findings of the EIA will be presented in an Environmental Statement which will accompany the planning application. This work is being undertaken by specialist consultants.
As part of this work, a detailed noise assessment is being undertaken.This measures noise levels at nearby properties to assess background noise levels. This data is then used to assess the likely impact of any additional noise associated with the Eastern Extension. The significance of this impact is then assessed against published standards and guidance.
These assessments are based in a worst case scenario, when operations are at their closest points to properties, and in exposed locations.
A major benefit in the site design will be a landform on the boundary of the site facing the main residential areas. This will not only act as a visual screen but also a noise barrier.
Will it smell?
Similarly to noise, the EIA also includes a detailed Air Quality Assessment. This will consider emissions to air in the form of dust and odour. For odour, the assessment will include detailed modelling of odour dispersion around the site using bespoke computer software. This will enable odour levels to be predicted around the proposed extension.
Operations at the site should not smell at the nearest residential properties. WRG is committed to being a good neighbour and to managing Dorket Head to a high standard and ensure operations have a minimum impact on surrounding neighbours.
It should be noted that the current area of working at the site is the closest point to the residential areas - the Eastern Extension, at its closest, will be over 3 times further away from residential areas than the current working area.
Will it mean more traffic?
No additional traffic will be generated by the Eastern Extension.
At Dorket Head there is no existing requirements or need to import clay as the factory is supplied from the adjacent quarry via an internal conveyor which passes beneath Calverton Road.
As such, the impact of traffic associated with the clay winning activities have had no effect upon local traffic levels. This situation will remain if planning permission for the Eastern Extension is granted, as clay will continue to be moved to the factory via the existing conveyor system.
With regards to restoration of the site by landfill, the amount of vehicles visiting the site will remain unchanged to the existing landfilling operations, which have been ongoing for many years. During the week the site typically accepts 50 to 60 vehicles per day.
Will I be able to see the Eastern Extension?
The southern boundary of the existing site is screened by dense woodland that was planted by Ibstock many years ago to reduce the visual impact of both clay extraction and landfill activities within the site.
Measures to help screen the workings have been incorporated into the design of the Eastern Extension. This will comprise landscaping planted along the eastern boundary bordering Woodborough Lane. In addition, on the western boundary, facing the majority of residential properties, it is proposed to construct a screening landform to be built using soils stripped from the site. The landform will be at a similar gradient to the existing sloping field and will be grass seeded to blend into existing slopes and will also provide good noise screening.
There will also be a total of 800 metres of tree and hedge species planted to further assist in reducing the visual impact of the proposals. Taken together, the landscaping to be undertaken will minimise the visual impact of operations and will also provide good noise screening.
As part of the EIA, consideration is being given to the potential visibility of the proposed operations. This will be tested using a three dimensional computer generated model of the workings and surrounding area to assess the degree of visibility.
Is any landscaping proposed?
Yes. As part of the restoration of site over 600 metres of tree lined footpath will be created as part of a diversion to the existing footpath that crosses the site.
Screening of the Eastern Extension will be provided by landscaping planted along the eastern boundary bordering Woodborough Lane. On the western boundary, facing the majority of residential properties, it is proposed to construct a screening landform to be built using soils stripped from the site. The landform will be at a similar gradient to the existing sloping field and will be grass seeded to blend into existing slopes.
There will also be a total of 800 metres of tree and hedge species plant to further assist in reducing the visual impact of the proposals. Taken together, the landscaping to be undertaken will minimise the visual impact of operations and will also provide good noise screening.
What are the proposed operating hours?
Hours of operation will be the same as those currently permitted for the existing clay extraction.
Permitted operating hours for clay working:
- Monday to Friday – 0700 until 1900
- Saturday – 0700 until 1300
- Sunday – Not at all
- Public/Bank Holidays – Not at all
Permitted hours for clay feed to the brickworks:
- Monday to Sunday – 0600 until 1800
Permitted hours for landfill:
- Monday to Friday – 0730 until 1730
- Saturday – 0730 until 1630
- Sunday – 0800 until 1630 (Civic amenity waste only)
Who is Ibstock?
Ibstock Brick Limited is one of the UK’s market leaders in brick and paving manufacture.
The Company takes its name from the original base in the village of Ibstock in Leicestershire, where the Company still has its headquarters.
Ibstock Brick Limited has 20 brick and paver plants in the UK with a total annual capacity in excess of 900 million bricks. The Company employs a total of 1,400 people across the UK. Further information can be found at:
Who is WRG?
Waste Recycling Group (WRG) is a leading UK waste management and energy recovery company.
It is part of Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas (FCC) the international construction and services group.
WRG is focused on delivering integrated waste management and energy recovery solutions to meet national, regional and local needs for local authorities and private commercial companies.
The Company operates facilities for the reception, recycling and disposal of waste, including a network of waste transfer and recycling centres and a regional network of landfill sites. WRG also manages a wide range of recycling sites on behalf of local authorities for use by the general public.
For further information visit www.fcc.es or www.wrg.co.uk
What is involved in the planning process?
Before submitting a planning application, Ibstock and WRG will be undertaking an engagement programme on the proposal to extend the quarry serving the Dorket Head Brick Factory. The proposals include restoration of the site by landfill. Local residents and stakeholders will shortly be receiving a newsletter providing further information. Ibstock and WRG will also be hosting two public information days where the proposals can be discussed with the project team directly.
Having received feedback, and amended the application to reflect comments, Ibstock and WRG will formally submit its plans to Nottinghamshire County Council. This is expected to take place in March 2010.
Nottinghamshire County Council will then notify a range of statutory and non-statutory consultees, including local residents and site neighbours. Comments received through this process will be considered. The Council’s Planning Officers will then make a recommendation to either approve (subject to a number of conditions) or refuse the proposals. The final decision will be made by elected members.
How can I have my say on the proposals?
There are a number of ways for people to have their say on the proposals.
Ibstock and WRG will also be holding two public information days in February to provide further information about the Eastern Extension. A series of information panels will be on display with members of the project team on hand to answer any questions that you may have.
These are taking place on:
- Friday, 5th February 2010, 6-9pm at-
The Bonington Theatre Lounge, 161 Front Street, Arnold, NG5 7EE - Saturday, 6th February 2010, 10am-3pm at-
Killisick Community Centre, Killisick Road, Arnold, NG5 7JJ
There is also a FREEPHONE Community Information Line (0800 023 2675) which can be called to speak directly to members of the project team. This line will be open between 9am and 8pm, 25th-29th January and 9am-5.30pm, Monday to Friday from 1st February for the duration of
the project.
You can also get in touch by using the online feedback form on this website or by emailing info@easternextension.co.uk
Call our information line on: 0800 023 2675* Opening times 25th-29th January, 9am-8pm 1st February onwards 9am-5.30pm (Monday to Friday)
Email us info@easternextension.
co.uk
* These contact details will put you in touch with PPS who are assisting Ibstock and WRG with community stakeholder engagement and enquiries.