£2.7m fund to minimise coke works' environmental impact

MILLIONS of pounds will be spent to minimise the environmental impact of a controversial coke works in South Yorkshire which has been at the centre of accusations over health problems.

Durham-based Hargreaves Services PLC has been consistently criticised by councillors and residents over emissions from its Monckton Coke and Chemical plant in Royston, near Barnsley.

The site has also been under the scrutiny of the Environment Agency after concerns were raised about operations, and a recent meeting was held between bosses and local councillors.

Now the firm has revealed that it has set aside 2.7m to deal with environmental issues at the works, and also said it wanted to move much of its transport onto the railways.

Senior Barnsley councillors called a crisis meeting with managers from Hargreaves last month. Both parties have now agreed work should take place to alleviate the concerns of locals.

Coun Graham Kyte, chairman of the council’s environment scrutiny committee which convened the meeting, and a Royston ward councillor, said the meeting had been productive

He added: “Our aim at the outset was to secure improvements on the plant’s operation while protecting jobs of the employees at the plant. I think we have made progress on both fronts and look forward to the improvements proposed.”

Reports from both the local primary care trust and the Environment Agency were ordered as part of the process, and the NHS review found that the works did not impact on health.

Officers from the Environment Agency said improvements in performance continued to be made but added that “general issues” remained about dust and odours in the area.

Hargreaves Services group chief executive Gordon Banham said the meeting had been a success from the company’s point of view and promised to ensure changes were made.

He said: “I thank Barnsley Council for giving us the opportunity to discuss our operations at Monckton and I agree with Councillor Kyte’s view that we have made real progress.

“Our company strongly believes in providing a safe environment for our staff, not just at Monckton but at all of our operational sites throughout the UK. That same commitment extends fully to our neighbours, the residents of Royston and the surrounding area.

“I can re-affirm that commitment, not least by announcing our additional 2.7m improvement programme outlined in our meeting.

“This additional investment is made in the context of other investment commitments elsewhere in our company and with regard to the life expectancy of the coking plant itself.”

The improvement programme at the plant will require the approval of the Environment Agency, which set out a series of strict standards to which the company must adhere.

Hargreaves said further investment in a rail terminal at the site may follow but that could be dependent on the company attracting grant funding to pay for part of the project.

Mr Banham said if trains were able to enter the plant it would remove up to 300,000 tonnes of road transport movements a year from the local area.

He added: “I can confirm that our company will continue to work in partnership with Barnsley Council and the Environment Agency to further improve the quality of the environment for the benefit of all.

“I would like to acknowledge the responsible scrutiny we receive from the Royston councillors. Their determination to ensure continuous improvement for local residents is something we value and warmly applaud.”

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