MADAM,

After reading the blurb in your columns about Siltbuster’s defence of criticism of its massive building prominently sited at the entrance to the new housing development at Wonastow Road, a number of residents have concluded that much of the firm’s reply is poppycock.

Take the point about Siltbuster having had consultation with the local community during the planning process. All the people I quizzed, including those living closest to the monstrous building, said they had not been approached. They also said that they had not seen a proper plan of the building.

Residents also disagreed with Siltbuster that no other land was available. The proper place for an industrial building, they maintained, was on the industrial estate where nearby land was available and was not close to homes.

The firm also pointed out that industrial land at Hadnock Road was unavailable as it was earmarked for a proposed hotel and spa. But residents pointed out that the hotel planning stage was recent compared to the layout of the Wonastow Road development which was mooted several years ago.

And with regard to Siltbuster saying the building was being constructed to a very good environmental standard, residents also disagreed, maintaining that it looked like a huge iavui shed and was unlikely to be satisfactorily screened by trees.

Percy Evans

(Monmouth)

In reply, we would like to further explain our position on the development and the work that has gone into it to date.

We have worked closely with Monmouthshire County Council in developing the design of the building to minimise its environmental and visual impact. Additionally, we published our expansion plans both online and in the local press (including the Monmouthshire Beacon on 14/10/2015). As such, the proposal has been subjected to the full scrutiny of the planning process, both at town and county council level, and attracted both supportive and objectionable comments at the time. This has resulted in a significant increase in building costs, which the company has had to bear out of its desire to remain loyal to Monmouth and its locally-based employees. We believe that once completed the building will achieve the standards both we and Monmouthshire County Council feel appropriate for the site. As such, we find it difficult to accept criticism of the building, particularly whilst it is only partially completed.

The fact that he quotes that the Wonastow Development has been mooted for some years, unfortunately further undermines the credibility of their argument as it confirms that the writer and the local community have been aware of the proposal for some time, and as such had plenty of time make their objections felt!

Unfortunately he is also incorrect regarding the status of the Haddock Road Site as this was given serious consideration by the company as a potential development site. However negotiations for the site did not progress as the owners already had other ideas for the site. Our objection to the development was filed with Monmouthshire however it was felt the economic benefits of the redevelopment outweighed the potential of retaining the site for industrial usage.

Whilst the company understands peoples concern regarding any industrial development, despite the company name insinuating a waste processing operation, we do not handle waste on our site and instead employ a large number of highly skilled graduates, engineers and process scientists that are involved in the development of innovative products and solutions.

Monmouth as a town is unfortunately facing a much greater underlying problem. A problem that I suspect the county council are all too aware of and that companies like Siltbuster and others who have remained loyal to town are in their own small way trying to address. Namely, the absence of meaningful local employment for both the towns’ current and future residents. Given societies’ concerns regarding global warming, carbon footprint and the environmental impact people make travelling long distances to and from Monmouth for work. One would hope that those informed residences of Monmouth would consider the opportunity to have a world leading company like Siltbuster basing its head office in Monmouth something to celebrate rather than belittle.

After all, the alternative is for Monmouth to continue declining into an even larger dormitory town with little or no prospect of meaningful work for those who cannot travel! One would hope that when put in this context, accepting the construction of this new building and the prosperity it will hopefully bring to Monmouth is a price worth paying.

Once complete, which is looking likely to be towards late August, we plan to host an open event for both our customers and the local community to find out more about what we do and potential opportunities in the next few years. Details of which we will publish closer to the time and we will welcome all feedback on the completed project.

(Dr Richard Coulton)

CEO Siltbuster