Viridor Working with Cheshire Authorities for Value for Money Waste Treatment Solution
Posted 16 Nov 2010
Viridor has welcomed last week’s announcements made by Cheshire West and Chester and Cheshire East Authorities, confirming that the company has been identified as the provisional preferred bidder for the Cheshire Waste Contract.
Viridor is currently working closely with the Cheshire Authorities to ensure that its service proposals for the effective management of household waste offer a value for money and practicable solution.
DEFRA recently announced the withdrawal of PFI credits for the project following the government’s Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR). However, the ‘provisional preferred bidder’ announcement has been made as the culmination of four years of work and careful analysis by the authorities during the preceding procurement process.
Viridor’s proposal at Lostock Works is for a Mechanical and Biological Treatment (MBT) facility that will safely treat residual waste, recovering recyclables and providing a source of solid recovered fuel that can be used to generate electricity at the nearby Runcorn combined heat and power plant, currently under construction.
Following a successful public consultation including an additional exhibition at Lostock Sports and Social Club, and further meetings with the Parish Councils of Lostock, Rudheath, Great Budworth and Wincham, Viridor has further improved the proposals. As a result of the consultations, the company will help deliver improved traffic management in the Lostock Gralam area by offering to cover the full cost of traffic signalisation (at the junction of Penny’s Lane, Middlewich Road, King Street and Griffiths Road).
It was evident from the comments received during the consultation that traffic was the most important issue for local residents. Viridor had previously offered a financial contribution of £150,000 towards highway improvements in the area; however it will now cover the total cost of the signalised junction to ensure that residents are not adversely affected by the facility.
Viridor has also confirmed that all of the necessary rail connections are now secured and in place to ensure that all Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF) produced at the treatment facility will only be dispatched by rail from the site. All of the SRF will be transported by rail to the Energy from Waste Combined Heat and Power facility in nearby Runcorn.
Commenting on the decision to provide the full traffic signalisation scheme, Viridor's Development Manager, Symon Grasby, said "The provision of traffic lights will help alleviate queuing problems at peak times, improve pedestrian crossing and safety and effectively act as a welcomed traffic calming measure along Griffiths Road/King Street for all traffic approaching this junction."
Mr Grasby added “Viridor is very pleased that the consultation has shown good levels of support for our Lostock proposals. The plant itself will generate much needed local jobs in the area; extract more recycled materials and the remainder will produce a fuel that will be efficiently used at the Runcorn Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Plant. The steam and electricity generated from the SRF will reduce the use of fossil fuels and provide support for essential local industry in Runcorn."
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