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Specialty Minerals meeting to update on noise assessments

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Specialty Minerals will be hosting a community meeting at 2pm on Thursday 30th March 2023. This is an opportunity to update residents on the noise assessments that have taken place and any new measures being introduced. They are also happy to take any questions about the site and operations, with plant manager Paul Smiles will be in attendance.

In July 2022, a BS4142 noise survey was done following a series of previous assessments and due to reports by residents. This exercise took place over two nights on the evenings of the 12th – 14th July 2022, to the early hours, to capture the quietest times at the noise receptor sites. The plant was systematically shut off and restarted to determine the contributions of each element of the plant, to the noise emissions reported. The survey also including measurements in their homes in order better to understand how noise generated at the site on Lifford Lane propagates into the community.

More information has been reported in the Speciality Minerals November 2022 newsletter available here.

Specialty Minerals intend to host the meeting onsite, so due to room constraints and health and safety records, they will be limited on space and will need names of attendees in advance. Please contact Phil Briscoe at phil.briscoe@secnewgate.co.uk or on 07968 807377 to confirm your attendance, if you have any queries, or if you would like attend on different date.

Meeting about Pineapple Road Station works

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Wet Midlands Rail Executive and principal contractor, VolkerFitzpatrick, are hosting a meeting on Wednesday 22nd March to talk about the work on Pineapple Road Station.

Join WMRE and VolkerFitzpatrick from 6-7pm at Church of the Ascension (on Pineapple Grove, B30 2TJ) for a presentation on what will be happening during the extended hours of work. During 25th March and 3 April the closure of the railway line will allow for 24-hour working on the site of the new Pineapple Road station. There will also be an opportunity to answer any questions you may have.

Pineapple Road station will provide faster, more reliable transport and reduce congestion and pollution. It will make it easier to travel for work, education, and leisure. The station will have 2 platforms, lifts, ticket machines, passenger help points, a pick and drop off area and secure cycle parking

Reimagining Transport in the West Midlands

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Transport for West Midlands are updating their Local Transport Plan and want to hear the views of Stirchley residents.

The Local Transport Plan is a document that sets out how they are reimagining transport in the West Midlands. The plan includes a core strategy that sets out the aims, vision and overarching approach to build a transport system that will help everyone thrive in a 45 minute region of 15 minute neighbourhoods.

From this, Transport for West Midlands have created six Big Moves with each move laying out key principles, policies and in some cases the specific interventions that will help achieve goals under a key area of action.

Transport for West Midlands want to make sure that their plans work for Birmingham residents. so they will be running a public consultation until 17 April 2023. 

To let TfWM know your thoughts on the six Big Moves and for more information, please visit www.tfwm.org.uk/bigmoves

Extended hours of work on Pineapple Road Station

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There will be a closure of the railway line between 25th March to 3rd April to allow for 24-hour working on the new Pineapple Road station.

VolkerFitzpatrick will use this time to carry out work that can only be done while the railway line is closed. This includes things like as pouring concrete to create the platform foundations and starting to install platform units.

The closure of the line will also be an opportunity to remove significant volumes of excavated soil by train. This will minimise the number of muck-away lorries needed, reducing the impact of construction work on local roads.

Work has been carefully planned to reduce disruption as much as possible. Measures will be in place to monitor and reduce any noise. Lighting will be directed away from neighbouring areas.

To receive updates about West Midlands Rail Executive station projects, visit wmre.org.uk/wmrpnewsletter and sign up to the newsletter.

Planning Application for Lifford Lane household recycling centre

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Veolia, on behalf of Birmingham City Council, intend to redevelop the existing Lifford Lane Waste Recycling Centre (aka the tip). Their intention is to provide a new split-level Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) and multi-functional Waste Transfer Station.

The site has been used for waste management for several decades and the current buildings need to be removed and replaced. In addition, the proposals aim to improve the services offered to the community, increase recycling rates, reduce traffic, remove the need for the public to access bins by carrying waste up steps and ultimately reduce the volume of waste sent to landfill.

The proposed development will improve efficiency with bins that are clearly marked and parking is clearly delineated. These measures, along with a redesigned entrance, would allow residents to get into and out more quickly, reducing the number of cars that would need to queue.

The new Waste Transfer Station would replace the existing building with a purpose-built, segregated facility. The weighbridge for lorries is moved further on to the site which ensures they are separated from cars accessing the site. Unlike the current arrangement, several lorries would be able to off-load waste at any one time, improving overall turn-around times.

To look at the planning documents and comment on the plans for the Household Waste Recycling Centre at Lifford Lane, visit Birmingham City Council’s planning portal. Please note, there are a lot of documents.

You can use the reference to search for the application on BCC Planning Online.
https://eplanning.birmingham.gov.uk/Northgate/PlanningExplorer/Home.aspx and the reference is 2023/00552/PA