Acoustic barrier for Backwell tip

A 3.5-metre acoustic barrier could be erected at Backwell recycling centre in a bid to reduce the amount of noise emanating from the site.

Residents have been complaining for several years about the noise coming from the tip at Church Town in the village.

Last year waste contractor May Gurney was forced to draft in extra trucks to get rid of rubbish after staff were told to stop using the compactor in the skips after people complained about the noise.

The compactor is used to crush and flatten rubbish and recyclable materials at the centre's 13 main waste skips.

As a result of the compactor being out of use, the skips are getting filled more quickly and having to be taken away more frequently.

Sound checks have been carried out at the recycling centre to assess the levels of noise made by the compactor and extra skips installed at the site.

Meetings have taken place between North Somerset Council, the Environment Agency and May Gurney to discuss a way forward for the Backwell site.

Plans have been submitted to erect a 3.5 metre specialist acoustic fence around part of the site – which is in the green belt – to reduce the noise.

The new fence will be 100m-long, made out of wood and metal, will cost around £50,000 and be funded by North Somerset Council.

North Somerset Council executive member for environment Peter Bryant said: "We have come up with plans to put an acoustic barrier which will go on the lower part of the site between the recycling centre and the houses. 

"We hope this will go some way towards solving the problems."