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Concerns raised over dust coming from Folkestone seafront development
06:00, 17 September 2020
An investigation is being carried out over the 'excessive' dust coming from the new seafront development in Folkestone .
Concerns have been raised by Cllr Nicola Keen, member of Folkestone and Hythe District Council (FHDC) for Harbour Ward, who says the dust coming from the site on the beach is leaving people's homes and cars covered in the dirt.
She says residents are worried about "air quality" and fear "this is just the beginning and that their lives are going to be made unbearable as the development makes progress".
Cllr Keen (Lab) raised the issue at Monday night's question and answer session held by FHDC.
Cllr Peall, cabinet member for enforcement, regulatory services, waste and building control, responded by confirming the council "has been investigating the allegation of excessive dust coming from the site".
He said environmental protection specialist have been in communication with the project manger to discuss the issues.
Cllr Peall said mitigation has been put in place to reduce the levels of dust, including using water suppression where required, using a water sprinkler system on the stock piles, reducing the heigh of the waste piles significantly and using a proposed wheel washing station for delivery lorries.
Cllr Peall (Con) said this had been followed by unannounced site visits by the specialists, but they have not established "statutory dust nuisance" occurring.
The councillor also said that some complainants had failed to complete a 'dust diary' which would help officers identify patterns and enable them to visit the site at appropriate times to witness the problems.
But Cllr Peall added that the investigation is "still very much open" and said the council will continue to carry out unplanned visits.
Cllr Keen also requested that an environmental reading from the area be made available but Cllr Peall said "monitoring dust with scientific equipment is not a simple matter and also has significant financial implications", adding the owners of the site are not legally required to monitor the dust levels this way.
When complete, the development will include a mix of apartments and town houses built on the shingle close to the Leas Lift and overlook the English Channel .
Sir Roger De Haan’s Folkestone Harbour and Seafront Development Company is behind the scheme with Folkestone-based Jenner leading the construction.
It is part of a planned 1,000-home masterplan destined for the coastline in Folkestone, which will also include restaurants, cafes, shops and public spaces, and will run all the way to the harbour arm.
Jenner managing director Martin Sandall said: "As a considerate and responsible local contractor we take any expressions of concern incredibly seriously and always do everything within our power to minimise disruption and inconvenience to those who live or work in close proximity to our sites.
"It is certainly a fine balance with the mitigative measures implemented to suppress levels of dust and air pollution, as the introduction of water via the dust cannons that we have utilised on site over recent months soon creates mud which in turn causes its own environmental concerns when it leaves the boundary of our site and affects the surrounding highways.
"We are aware of resident anxieties that the situation may become exacerbated as construction activity continues, and would like to offer further reassurance that now that the piled foundations have completed and we are through the driest part of the year, we do not envisage that this will prove problematic to local residents.
"Indeed the level of dust generation on our site has significantly decreased to a negligible level over the past few weeks, but despite this the team on site continue to regularly monitor the levels, working closely with the Environmental Enforcement Officers at Folkestone and Hythe District Council and will continue to employ suppression measures as deemed appropriate going forwards.
"It is also worthy of note that that there are other contractors working within the Folkestone seafront vicinity who are not associated with Jenner or the residential development site, and as such we should not be held accountable for dust generated by their operations."
