Waste firm warns Cannock housing estate is at risk of disastrous fire
A waste company has warned that a brand new housing estate is at risk of disaster should fire ignite from the flammable chemicals at its site less than 10feet away from the houses.
In the wake of the tragic Grenfell Tower blaze Augean has written to Cannock Chase District Council to express grave concerns about the close proximity of its business to more than 100 homes at Lakeside Boulevard in Bridgtown.
While the firm has also moved to alert the authority of the 'public health' risk due to possibility of dozens more homes being built nearby at the former Parker Hannifin valve works on Walkmill Lane.
Augean is now seeking urgent talks with the council and developer Project AML to mitigate the risks.
The planning committee is set to discuss the situation on Wednesday.
A report states: "Further to the approval of the application the council has received correspondence form Augean expressing concern regarding the proximity of the development to their compound and the potential risks to public health from fire and chemicals stored at the site.
"The matter has been investigated at the corporate level and the council has written to Augean setting out its position.
"The letter acknowledges that the decision by the council’s planning committee was not easily made but on balance and in light of all relevant information, it was decided that it would not be possible to refuse the application on planning grounds."
The report adds that Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service has also been approached to investigate the risks.
Councillor John Kraujalis, who represents the area and sits on the committee, said: "Augean have always been against the development and there were proposals to mitigate the concerns of Augean and councillors.
"Now since Grenfell Tower they have reiterated their concerns to the council saying can you look at this again more deeply."
A spokeswoman for Augean told the Express & Star: "We are hoping to urgently resolve this matter with the council and the developers."
The Parker Hannifin site has been deemed integral to the council meeting its future housing needs to deliver 3,000 more properties between now and 2028.
But in May the planning committee refused a bid by Schroder Property to build 93 homes there because the developer did not want to deliver any affordable housing at the brownfield site.
The council's website states the London-based firm have appealed the decision.
