Following the Derbyshire County Council’s recent decision to extend the licence for landfill operations at the Erin Landfill Site in Duckmanton for a further 14 years, the site’s operators, Viridor, are creating a new ‘resident liaison committee’ to improve relations with local residents and to hopefully address any problems.

Local MP, Toby Perkins, visited Erin Landfill to discuss the historic problems experienced in the village with the site manager.

Toby said, “I am pleased that the resident liaison committee is being recreated, and this is something I suggested had to be in place before the licence was extended. I share local residents disappointment that the original plans to close the site by the end of the year have now been reversed, but now the licence has been extended the focus needs to be on ensuring that the site is having as little impact on the village as possible. I have made a number of my own suggestions for improvements, and heard Viridor’s views on what might be possible and limitations that exist on delivering, but it is important that Viridor hear directly from residents about how their lives are being affected.”

The first meeting of the resident liaison committee will take place on Thursday 8^th July at Staveley Town Hall and will include local councillors, representatives from Derbyshire County Council, Chesterfield Borough Council, Staveley Town Council, the Environment Agency as well as several local residents.

Toby added, “What I really want from Viridor, is for local residents to have clarity on what the plan is for the site and to get a sense that the site is progressing and will eventually be closed. This would include starting to see the site shrink as areas that have now been filled in are grassed over and brought back into community use. I also want to see speedy responses to any problems linked to the site. I would encourage people to contact the County Councillor for the area, Cllr Anne Hayes, so she can ensure your views are represented.”

Cllr Hayes can be contacted at Anne.Hayes2@derbyshire.gov.uk