Fowles Crushed Concrete Limited (FCC) currently hold two permits for processing inert and non-hazardous waste at the Hythe End Road waste site in Wraysbury. One permit allows an annual throughput of 50,000 tonnes of waste with 160 tonnes permitted to be stored at any one time. The other permit allows an annual throughput of 75,000 tonnes but does not allow the storage of waste. FCC has also registered four exemptions at this site. Exemptions are for low risk waste operations. They do not need to be applied for but the operator must register any exemptions they are using with us. Further information on permit and exemptions can be found at www.gov.uk/guidance/waste-environmental-permits

In February 2016, we revoked both permits held by FCC for this site. Since then, we have continued to review operator compliance at the site. On 29 November 2016 we determined that it was no longer appropriate or proportionate to continue with the enforcement action at this site. This is because the operator has made improvements to its operating methods, such as site surfacing and dust suppression measures.

FCC has also submitted a duly made application to vary and consolidate its permits. The variation application, if granted, would authorise the waste storage that was the subject of our enforcement action.

FCC has applied to vary and consolidate its existing two permits into one. This permit would allow an annual throughput of 125,000 tonnes and storage limit of approximately 2,600 tonnes.

This will be subject to a Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) which the operator has to submit as part of the application process.

The variation would not be issued unless we have received a suitable FRA and conditions are set in a revised permit that would safeguard the environment.

Public consultation

As part of the permit application process, we will consult with the public.

We will inform you when this will be happening, where this can be viewed and deadlines for the consultation.

We will also inform you of what issues we can consider as part of the application.

This public consultation will allow residents and interested parties to comment on the proposed variation.

We will continue to inspect the site against the current permits until the permit variation application is determined.

We will review the procedures for accepting waste, which includes quantities accepted on site.

Should the variation be issued we will start regulating against the new permit conditions.

If we do not grant the new variation we will review our enforcement options against the current permits.

Please note that issues relating to planning, traffic and vehicle movements are outside the remit of the Environment Agency. Therefore we are unable to investigate these issues. For planning and traffic issues, please contact Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Council on 01628 683800.

If you are concerned about excessive noise or other amenity issues such as dust or odour from waste sites please continue to report these to our Incident Hotline on 0800 80 70 60. This is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

We carefully assess every report we receive of an environmental incident. We send our officers out to investigate further if we believe there is evidence of a serious impact on the environment. The reports we receive are invaluable in helping us build up a clearer picture of where problems may be occurring and whether we need to investigate further. By focussing our efforts in this way, we ensure we make the best use of our resources.

If we do not attend an incident, it does not mean we ignore the reports we received. We use any information we receive to focus our resources better and be more intelligence-led in our approach.