Sandhoe Community

Minutes of Egger Liaison Committee meeting 27 November 2008 at Egger factory Hexham
 
1 Trees. The planting program has started. John Pennie will arrange with Paul Dancer of Smiths Gore the best way for the agreed monies to be paid across to Smiths Gore so that they can pay the contractor, Philip Herdman and also pay the Beaufront Castle Estate the £3000 endowment fee. John Pennie will advise Simon Dotlinger of the outcome of the conversation with Paul Dancer. Simon Dotlinger confirmed that he saw no problems in this regard.
 
2 John Pennie will be meeting the representative of the Hexham Mart so as to agree the final planting scheme for their field - they had wanted to wait until the leaves had fallen this Winter before finalising their agreement for their field bordering the road form Oakwood to Camillus Bank .
 
3 Old Plant. SD reported that the dismantling of the old plant is on track. Care is being taken with the dismantling because some of the equipment is being sold to an overseas buyer for re-use. It is due to be completed by the end of the Winter i.e. probably by March 2009.
 
4 Log Handling The filing of the new log handling plant planning application and allied applications  is imminent and it is believed that the degree of consultation that has been undertaken with the planners at Tynedale,  and with other regulators, will mean that this time the application proceeds smoothly. In anticipation of still being able to adhere to the earlier critical dates for installation, the plant is on order with a view to installation during the period January-April 2009.
SD and his team are fully confident that it operate within the existing noise limits and they recognise the very dire consequences if it  fails to do so.
 
5  Operating hours The existing log handling plant has not been operating between 22 30 and 06 30 since late August 2008. SD sees no likelihood of night-time working in the immediate future and hopes that it may never recur once the new more efficient plant is installed. The new plant shows a substantial energy saving and this has appealed to management on account of its lower cost and  the further improvement to the business’ Green credentials .
 
6  New Building  the planning application for the new building has been the subject of significant consultation with the authorities. It is anticipated by Egger that it will be the subject of a decision in late January 2009 and that, if approved, construction may not start at once but may be deferred for a period. There was discussion about the noise abatement measures, and assurances were given that while the activities inside the new building were likely to create noise, the design was intended to deliver a large measure of noise attenuation. It would not be working at night. The design of the roof lights was intended to contain noise emissions , whilst maximising the entry of natural daylight into the building .
 
John Pennie