Residents battling 'excessive dust for five years'

A streetsweeper kicking up dust on the side of the road in County Durham

A group of residents say they have spent the last five years battling "excessive dust" on their street, which they believe is caused by trucks taking waste to a nearby recycling centre.

Kev Woodcock, who lives on Durham Road in Ferryhill, said he was worried about any health implications of breathing in small particles.

The residents claim the dust comes from the back of vehicles traveling to Bishop Middleham Plant and Recycling Limited in County Durham.

The Environment Agency said it carried out a site inspection in September and everything was compliant with its permit. Brian White, manager of the site, declined to comment.

Stephen Reed, Durham County Council's planning manager, said whenever concerns were raised about the dust they had been treated with "appropriate seriousness and investigated".

However, Mr Woodcock, speaking on behalf of the residents' group, claimed the issue had been reported for years but "nothing has been done".

"We began noticing the dust five years ago, it is excessive and thick dust," he said.

"To the touch it has a texture like flour."

Residents worry about any health impact of breathing in the dust

Mr Woodcock says trucks and lorries loaded with waste drive along Durham Road late into the night, disrupting the street.

"It's just horrendous, we have been ignored for years," he said.

"I have coughed for the last five years, I can't say for sure it is the dust but it can't be helping."

He says several of his close neighbours also suffer from chest issues.

An Environment Agency spokesperson said it had previously instructed the recycling centre to reduce waste stockpile heights.

"Following our most recent inspection in September, the site had adhered to this request and remained compliant with its permit," they said.

"We have not received complaints relating to this site recently and would urge any residents impacted by the site to report their concerns."

Speaking on behalf of the council, Mr Reed said: "Over the years, we have worked with the site operator to resolve matters wherever planning breaches have been found.

"Our transport colleagues have also looked into points raised with them by residents about vehicular access to the industrial estate as well as lorries mounting footpaths, which they have raised with the businesses there.

"We are currently investigating one recent planning complaint but it would not be appropriate to discuss that while it is ongoing."