14 of us were treated to a fascinating glimpse into what happens to black bin rubbish collected from York and North Yorkshire homes.  Being a Science teacher, it brought textbook pages to life.

We are all familiar with the 4R’s motto and the important message reinforced by our guide Kimberley was:

We need to REDUCE waste and be encouraging manufacturers to ban single use plastics

As much as possible we should aim to RECYCLE our garden and food waste as well as all metals and recyclable plastics, glass etc in our roadside bins.  These go to specialised recycling centres.

Double checking what your kerbside recycling collects will help the reduction of contamination in the recycling process, if in doubt bin it than risk contaminating recycling loads.

We should also aim to REUSE plastic bags, clothing etc.

And finally RECOVER which is where Allerton comes into it and recovers all other non-recyclable waste for energy recovery.

AWRP is built near a landfill site which is no longer operational because black bin waste now comes to the plant; although it is still maintained, due to gases still being produced in the landfill from previous waste disposals.

We were impressed that all the waste is sorted as it comes in and all organic matter is taken to an anaerobic digester which produces BIOGAS (mostly methane) and this is then transferred into gas engines for electricity production.  Clearly rubbish does smell but interestingly, the stale air is also pumped into the incinerator which lessens the smell but is also used as an airflow for the furnace to keep it at it’s high temperatures!  During the sorting process any recyclable material such as Ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals and plastics are baled up and sent to recycling works in the UK.

The non- recyclable material including mattresses from tips,  are burnt generating steam which generates electricity. The waste from the incinerator is scrubbed and conforms to stringent W.H.O standards and EA regulations.  The plant is self- sustainable and produces electricity for 40,000 homes which is added to the National grid.

We would thoroughly recommend a visit, to book a visit for a group of up to 15 people visit:
https://wasteservices.amey.co.uk/where-we-work/north-yorkshire/community-and-education/

For any queries about the tour, email: AWRP.Visitor@amey.co.uk

Joyce Harrison

Bickerton Resident & Science Teacher

PROPOSED EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS STORAGE

A Planning Application has been received for the creation of a site for Energetic Materials Storage
and Distribution. Consent is being sought for the storage of 35 tonnes of explosive and 50 tonnes
of Ammonium Nitrate.

The proposed site is to the west of Rudgate adjacent to the Minster Hag Business Park.

Your Parish Council is very concerned and will be objecting to this Application on several Planning
grounds, including inadequate site security, light pollution and proximity to

dwellings.

It will help to prevent the approval of this Application if a large number of letters are received
from individual residents in the Parish objecting to the Application. Please help with this if you
can, you don’t need any technical knowledge. It’s enough to express concern about the quantity of
explosive and the proximity of the site to the surrounding

houses.

Contact details for letters and emails: helen.goulden@harrogate.gov.uk

Case Nos 19/02944/HSC & 19/01923/FULMAJ

PHONE BOX

The Parish Council have received several letters and emails about the loss of the BT Payphone in Bilton in Ainsty. After consulting Harrogate Borough Council and BT, we can confirm that this is not the case. Currently the Parish has two working BT Payphones, one in Bilton in Ainsty and one in Bickerton. It is the Council’s view that, because the network coverage for mobile phones is still inconsistent, a working BT Payphone is essential to make calls in an emergency. We will continue to make this point whenever BT conducts one of it’s regular reviews.

CHURCHYARD

In the past the Parish Council made a contribution to the maintenance of the churchyard
at St Helens. More recently we discovered that Parish Councils are not allowed to
contribute to ‘active’ graveyards. Consequently we will no longer be making this
contribution. The Vicar is aware of the situation and understands why this decision was
made.

COMMUNITY GRANTS

As you may be aware, as residents of this rural area we do not benefit from any local
services within the Parish. Schools, GP Practices etc are all in neighbouring Parishes. Our
residents either attend Springbank Surgery at Tockwith/Green Hammerton or Crossley
Street Surgery in Wetherby. Some time ago our then Chairman, whilst attending
Tockwith/Green Hammerton Surgery noticed that they were fund raising for an ultra
sound scanner. As this would be most helpful to local people, prevent unnecessary
journeys and speed up diagnosis, he asked the Parish Council if it would be willing to
make a contribution to the fund, which Councillors readily agreed. However, conscious
that many residents particularly in Bickerton, attend Crossley St Surgery and in an attempt
to be even handed, an approach was made to Crossley St Surgery with the same offer of
£1000, for a project of their choice.

THE CHEQUERS INN CAR PARK

As you may know, The Chequers Inn has been sold and will be renamed The Tickled Trout
under private ownership when it re-opens in late 2019. The Parish Council has been
involved in the negotiations regarding the lease of the car park.
Some years ago, following a legal dispute about ownership of the pub car park, the newly
confirmed legal owner offered the land to the Parish Council for the princely sum of £1.00
The Parish Council accepted the offer and owns the land. It leases the car park to the
owner of the pub in accordance with conditions set out in a 10 year lease agreed in April
2018. The income from the lease reduces the annual operating costs of the Parish Council
by 25% and the community charge levied on each property in the Parish is also reduced.