Pollution in a stream by the old fairy bridge is believed to be linked to an old landfill site.

Improvements have been made at a waste transfer facility in Braddan after neighbours’ complaints prompted an investigation by DEFA’s environmental protection unit.

But the investigation has concluded that reported pollution in the stream at the old fairy bridge is not linked to the Middle Park site - and the orange discolouration seen there appears to be an historic issue.

The Middle Park site was a former landfill.

During an assessment carried out in 1991, leachate from the site was noted to be ’distinctive orange/brown ferric oxide stained and present along a 50m stretch of the river bank’ by the Energy from Waste plant.

A further leachate with similar orange colour and leading to discolouration of the stream sediment was noted 35m upstream of the old fairy bridge, a report by Acer Environmental found.

River water quality has also been assessed annually as part of the normal island monitoring programme conducted by the environmental protection unit.

Data shows that between 2015 and 2019, there has been little variation in the river water quality. There is limited variation, too, to samples conducted in 1999.

evidence

The environmental protection unit believes there is therefore limited evidence of the current recycling site being responsible for directly impacting the river water quality.

Complaints from neighbours of the Middle Park transfer station focused on noise, excessive hours of operations, vermin, burning waste and unsightly piles of rubbish building up without being screened from view.

Island Drainage and Groundwork agreed an action plan to address the issues. Many of the changes have already been carried out and a review visit to the site by the environmental protection unit will be carried out this month (November).

In an update to the neighbours who had raised the complaints, an officer from the unit said much of the pile of scrap metal has now been removed.

The operators say in future the heavy metals will be shipped off site more frequently.

Under the planning conditions attached to the site (16/00983/B) stored material should not exceed 5m in height.

A pile of uPVC waste has also been removed and in future such material will be stored in a defined hard-standing area.

The operators say they are terminating all food waste contracts, stopping any food products from being brought onto the site for processing within the green waste.

Burning of green waste is not permitted but fires can occur during composting when temperatures can reach 70C. All fires are to be regarded as an emergency and immediate actions taken to extinguish them.

Problems of vermin spotted an neighbouring properties are under active management by DEFA’s pest control officers, the environmental protection unit says.

Outside normal hours of operation, only necessary works such as maintenance and security are permitted and no work can be conducted in the hours of darkness.