Concrete crushing machine causes concern (From Watford Observer)

Concrete crushing machine causes concern

4:20pm Tuesday 19th February 2013 in News By Adam Binnie, Senior Reporter

A concrete crushing machine, which could process 50,000 tonnes of raw building material a year, could be installed in Watford.

Plans to process and recycle "inert waste materials" at the Wiggenhall Goods Yard, in Wiggenhall Road, have been submitted to the county council.

Residents in nearby Cardiff Road, Wiggenhall Road and Riverside Road, have voiced concerns about the noise and dust created by the machine.

The plans detail how concrete, tiles, bricks, soil and rubble could be processed between 7am and 5pm, Monday to Friday, and 8am to noon on Saturdays. In a report, the county council noted that no details of what type of crusher, or the noise levels it would produce, had been submitted.

Council planners added: "The sound of heavy metal machinery crushing large blocks of concrete in the open has the potential to be audible over a wide area.

"We are concerned that the continuous operation of the crusher during the hours applied for could give rise to significant noise nuisance."

A condition for approval set out that only one crusher - with a maximum sound level of 83 decibels - could be used at a time.

The county’s Highways Authority also insisted on allowing no more than 26 lorry movements at the site on any one working day to reduce the impact on traffic.

Neighbours objecting to the scheme suggested they would be adversely affected by the noise generated, especially early in the morning and at weekends.

They were also concerned about the large amount of dust that would be produced as a by product of the process.

The application was submitted on the basis that the crusher could only operate for 18 months, due to the uncertain future of the site.

The area is currently being considered for the development of a new road, linking the M1 motorway with the new Watford Health Campus.

The health campus aims to redevelop a 26 hectare site in Watford, bringing with it new hospital facilities, 600 homes, office space, light industrial units for employment opportunities.