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odour problems returns
John Austin MP has warned local residents of potential ongoing problems with odour nuisance in the area as a result of operational problems at the Crossness Sludge Incinerator.
Problems have arisen in recent days at the Crossness plant, when during a maintenance shutdown to one of the two incinerator sludge streams, the second sludge stream suffered a boiler tube failure and is unable to burn any sludge. As a result Thames Water have instigated measures to export all the sludge off the site. This will result in around 3500 tonnes per week or 16 lorries per day operating 24 hours a day until approximately 25th May. However, Thames Water plan to have one of the sludge streams back in operation by 21st May.
Along with local councillors, John has raised concerns about odour nuisance that may be caused to residents as a result of transferring sludge from the site and the fact that many local residents will not be aware of the potential cause of the increased odour complaints.
John Austin said: “Thames Water have said that the sludge is being exported for disposal to agriculture, remediation sites and landfill outside the Borough and that they have delivered a letter to residents in Harrow Manor Way to advise them that there will be an increase in lorry movements. However, when sludge was last transported from the site, I received complaints from residents across Belvedere, Erith and Thamesmead regarding difficulties caused to them by lorries filled with sludge passing their homes and feel that Thames Water have not learned from this past experience.”
Belvedere’s Councillor Daniel Francis had raised these concerns as well as concerns regarding Thames Water’s inability to consult adequately with local residents regarding potential future developments at the site at a meeting held on 10th April.
Cllr Francis said: “Thames Water told me only five weeks ago that they could not foresee any reason why local residents would have to suffer sludge being transported by lorry from the site again and yet they are now having to do so. This along with their inability to consult with local residents in the Thamesmead area or keep to their commitment regarding the distribution of a community newsletter to local residents has unfortunately once again brought into question their commitment to relations with the local community. Only last week, they organised a meeting for Belvedere, Erith and Thamesmead Councillors to consult us on their proposals, without seeking clarification of the council calendar and then held the meeting on an evening when all nine councillors were due to attend meetings fixed in the council calendar.”
John Austin and local ward councillors have received assurances that there will be no storage of sludge on land at the site and that Bexley Council will be liaising with Thames Water to ensure that they minimise odour problems during this period of operational difficulty.
Joint Campaign Targets Rogue Traders
Police and trading standards officers visited every bank and building society in the borough during April as part of a campaign to stop rogue traders and people running scam competitions aimed at defrauding Bexley residents. They were giving guidance to staff on what to look out for when elderly or vulnerable people attempt to withdraw large amounts of money by cash or cheques.
“These people are particularly prone to conmen who carry out small scale building or maintenance work and then charge extortionately,” says Cllr Katie Perrior, Bexley Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Affairs. “Sometimes the victims are put under immediate pressure by the workmen and escorted to banks or building societies to withdraw the money.”
“They can also fall for postal scams that can cost them a lot of money.”
The teams reminded staff at the banks and building societies about telltale signs which should alert them to possible trouble and about the action they can take if their suspicions are aroused.
A leaflet with contact information and details of what to look out for, and another highlighting some recent success stories, was left for future reference and for use as a training aid.
Police Sergeant Neil Stevenson, of Crayford Safer Neighbourhoods Policing Team, recalls: “One of the examples included in the leaflet relates to an incident last year. Officers were at the premises of a Belvedere building society giving this advice when an elderly lady came in and wanted to withdraw £2,000 to pay into a Canadian lottery.
“Prompt action by the officers on the spot dissuaded her from sending the money and she was able to pay the cash back into her account.”
He says: “By working in partnership with Bexley Trading Standards to secure the help of banks and building societies we can stop this kind of crime.”
Tina Gibbons, of Trading Standards, says: “It is frustrating to know about these scams but be able to do little more than warn people in a general way about the dangers or, even worse, give advice only after money has been lost - but getting banks and building societies on board gives us a real chance to make it more difficult for these thieves to profit from their callous activities.”
Anyone wishing to report suspicious building works or tradesmen can call Bexley Trading Standards on 07716 116452.
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Jamelia will be headlining this year’s Trust Thamesmead Summer Festival which co-insides with Thamesmead’s 40th birthday. Keeping in theme, acts from the last four decades, including Showaddywaddy, The Real Thing, Sybil, Antony Costa, The Honeyz and Trust Thamesmead’s T Factor winners Audio Hawk will all be performing on stage.
Click here for for more details |
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