Transport
- How would fuel be delivered?
- How much extra traffic is created by the plant?
- What measures are in place to prevent problems at the A17 Kirkby La Thorpe junction?
- How would straw lorries be kept away from minor roads?
- How would routeing arrangements be enforced?
- Would any lorries go through Sleaford town?
- Can the bales fall off the lorries?
- Won't the straw lorries litter Lincolnshire's roads?
How would fuel be delivered?
The straw would be delivered in the form of Hesston Bales. The bales would be delivered on flat bed trailers, typically in a drawbar combination carrying three layers of 12 bales. Wood would be delivered in chip form in bulk tipping lorries.
How much extra traffic is created by the plant?
The plant would create a total of 100 additional HGV movements per full day of deliveries (bearing in mind that we are only proposing fuel deliveries on weekdays and half-days on Saturdays). The 100 movements equate to 50 each way: 47 for straw deliveries, with the balance for the removal of ash and other less frequent deliveries.
Staff movements, assuming all arrive individually by car, would create 36 journeys on a weekday (18 in and 18 out). Measures would be in place to encourage more sustainable commuting where possible.
What measures are in place to prevent problems at the A17 Kirkby La Thorpe junction?
The Environmental Impact Assessment, as described in the environmental statement, has concluded that the capacity of the A17 and the junction at Kirkby La Thorpe are capable of accepting the additional vehicle movements that are created by the plant without any additional measures at the junction itself.
It is important to note that the 100 HGV movements noted in the answer above that would be created by the plant would be split such that those that access from the A17 easterly would head west when leaving the plant and vice versa. As such, each side of the junction at Kirkby La Thorpe would only see 50 HGV movements over a 12 hour day, or approximately 1 every 15 minutes.
It is proposed that HGVs leaving the plant and wishing to head east along the A17 would be subject to a routeing agreement that forces them to first head west along the A17 and turn around at the junction between the A17 and the A153.
How would straw lorries be kept away from minor roads?
The nature of the industry dictates that agricultural vehicles must use minor roads to access farms. As such, there would be some use of minor roads by straw lorries. Given the large area from which straw would be sourced, vehicle numbers in any one location within the catchment area are unlikely to cause a significant nuisance. In the immediate vicinity of the plant, where vehicle numbers would be greater, Eco2 recognises the need to discourage transport through local villages and on local minor roads. We would therefore introduce routeing agreements with our hauliers that would oblige them to use particular routes that make use of major roads wherever possible.
How would routeing arrangements be enforced?
Routeing agreements would form part of the commercial contract between the owners of the plant and the haulage company. Breaking a routeing agreement would ultimately lead to the termination of the contract.
Would any lorries go through Sleaford town?
No. A combination of the proposed access design on site preventing lorries exiting towards Sleaford on Boston Road together with the height restriction on the railway bridge would result in no HGVs moving through Sleaford town centre.
Can the bales fall off the lorries?
No, straw movement on the vehicles that would be used to supply the plant is an established practice and it is accepted that bales can be moved securely.
Won't the straw lorries litter Lincolnshire's roads?
Straw bale movements would shed some straw, as anybody who has followed a vehicle would verify. However, the actual losses from each load are very, very small and would not lead to any noticeable accumulation of straw on Lincolnshire's roads.
It must be remembered that there is nothing unusual at all about straw movements by road; this is an established practice.
