New Jet Fuel Plant

Received a reply from Rachel Graham (Ecology Officer) to my recent email .
Essentially she says that it is part of her job to make sure any disturbance to the site is ameliorated as much as poss by the use of screens, building positioning, noise minimisation, timing of works etc. She wants the site to be a success as much as we do.

I left a note in the hide for Rachel re the annoying wind noise in one corner of the hide. This is now on the list of snags, so hopefully will be fixed in the fullness of time!

I’m open-minded on the Stallingborough proposal.

I’m all in favour of new economic activity, especially if it creates skilled jobs.

Also, estuary waders seem to adapt well to industrial development around them. When I went to a Port of Immingham open day a few winters back, I’d never seen so many bartails and curlews on a relatively confined patch of mud.

Am I not right in thinking Teesmouth also has loads of waders?

The project will definitely transform the habitat, but perhaps it will draw in different types of species - eg black redstarts, peregrines.

The online consultation process allows birders the opportunity to suggest ideas (eg nestboxes, swiftbricks, bat boxes) to enhance the site for wildlife. So I would urge any LBC member to do just that.

I think the NELC planning officer, Richard Limmer, might take particular note from any proposals from the Grimsby RSPB Group.

Of course, there’s also nothing to prevent anyone submitting suggestions direct to the developer as well as through the consultation process.

It’s very good that Joy has established a rapport with the council’s new ecology officer.

I think there’s scope - so far largely unexplored - for partnership working between local RSPB groups, the LBC and the planning officers of local authorities.

In my experience, planners are supportive of the principle of biodiversity, but they’re not birders/naturalists so they need a bit of guidance from wise (!) folks like us.

You make some astute points there, Peter.
Yes, Cress Marsh is specifically a Mitigation Site and not a bird reserve as such... however, that makes little practical difference.
I have emailed Rachel, the NE Lincs Ecology Officer for her thoughts on the Jet Fuel Plant plans

I agree, Nick, very worrying being next to a specially created Reserve, and one with the potential of being one of the areas best.
I guess the Cress Marsh reserve was created to try and mitigate habitat loss caused by local industrialisation, so it was inevitable that industry of some sort would be a next door neighbour, but a Jet Fuel Plant is probably not the best of choices.
It would be interesting to know what chemicals and acids are used in the production process. the noise level, and, being a volatile process, plus product storage, what the ‘Blast Circle’ is calculated at in event of an accident, taking into consideration reserve users will be either in open environment or in a wooden structure.
To my mind there could be a few safety issues here that the Reserve Management may like to be aware of.
Just my thoughts.

I believe the old Tioxide site has already been put to another use - car storage.

Well, after looking at the plans and viewing the PDFs I can see the site being detrimental to the reserve.
When you chuck in the stacks of up to 80m overshadowing the area, it doesn't bode well.
I'm no planner, nor do I understand all the legal spiel but surely there are better sites available. What about the old Ciba or Tioxide sites?