STANFORD-LE-HOPE councillor, Shane Hebb (Con), has arranged a meeting with Thurrock Council and Barratts Homes, after residents and local people raised concerns over dust and other construction-related matters in the Butts Lane area.
Using a survey to canvass local feeling, Shane presented his feedback to both the developer and the council, who all embarked on a multi-agency approach to reduce concerns and issues for local people.
“Firstly, I’d like to say thanks to the Thurrock Planning department and Barratts for meeting with me to receive the feedback”, reports Cllr Hebb. “Everyone got round a table, with lots of feedback forms, and got into detail about what may be causing the issues, and what could be done differently to make a difference”.
The meeting reviewed a number of issues – including dust; stray waste; hours of working; construction noise; site access and general communications.
Key outcomes were:
Watering-down arrangements to be reviewed, especially in high heats.
Thurrock Council to complete a due-diligence activity to see if / what gaps there are in the dust management programme, to assist Barratts manage this.
Additional litter picks.
Confirmation that works will only commence in approved hours of operation.
Committed communications in written form and a surgery, to raise awareness of future plans, and to discuss any issues that arise.
The developer has said that the out-of-hours issues recently have now been resolved.
“Barratts detailed that they have built a road network behind the eventual development with tarmacked roads for the transport of vehicles around the site, to prevent heavy vehicles going over dirt tracks – clearly there is merit in this, and the situation may actually be worse. However, there are issues which need addressing, which the Construction Management team have taken away with them and have confirmed back to me that they will take these forward and implement them”
It is foreseen that the dust issues will reduce in coming months, owing to fact that the development opposite the properties should be completed in the remainder of this year, coupled with changing weather conditions.
“We had a good meeting. This has the fresh opportunity of forging improved relations between the developer and neighbours in the coming weeks and months. Only inaction would prevent that from happening”.
