A CONCRETE plant near Alrewas is hoping to extend its operating hours for three months to help with the construction of HS2.
Pyford Brook Quarry near Alrewas was granted planning permission in 2022, but has only been allowed to open between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 1pm on Saturdays.
But site operator Cemex says it now needs to work outside these hours up to 31st March in order to support weekend, evening and night-time works taking place on the HS2 line near Streethay.
Concrete from Pyford Brook is being used for the construction of the South Staffordshire Line overbridge, the A38 southbound slip road overbridge and the A38 Rykneld Street overbridge.
Cemex has now asked Staffordshire County Council for prior approval for the extended hours in line with a condition of the original planning consent.
Members of the council’s planning committee will consider the request at their meeting on 9th January.
Cemex says that if the site cannot provide concrete for the HS2 works in a “timely manner”, HGV deliveries will be needed from further afield which would cause increased carbon emissions.
The company adds that Pyford Brook could potentially end up operating longer than anticipated if concrete cannot be supplied in time.
Lichfield District Council has objected to the application, claiming that the operator need only extend the operating hours to 7am to midnight on weekdays and 7am to 7pm on weekends.
But planning officers have recommended that councillors grant the request for extended hours.
The report to the committee states that there would be a requirement that any use of the concrete plant between 7pm and midnight should be for no more than nine days in any 15 consecutive day period – and 40 days in total – until the end of March.
HGV movements would also be limited to 170 within a 24-hour period.
Alrewas Parish Council has asked to be given prior notice of the actual out-of-hours working at least seven days in advance so that it can pass the information on to residents.
But Cemex says this would not be possible due to the short notice given to the company by the main contractor of HS2.
Funny when this was 1st passed after our objections against it HS2 said they had already got there supplier for concrete and it was nothing to do with Cemex.