Eric Wright Civil Engineering (EWCE) is making good progress on the remediation works at the Sugden End Landfill site at Keighley near Bradford with work on track for completion by Autumn 2020.
The 35-week groundworks programme for the City of Bradford MDC, is the first part of what will be a wider restoration project to create upland woodland with native oak, rowan and silver birch trees, moorland areas, wildflower meadows and rock pile areas on the landfill site. When complete the site will be divided by fencing and dry-stone walling.
EWCE’s work on the 10-hectare site involves stripping temporary restoration subsoil materials then capping with a geo-synthetic clay liner. New layers of soil and subsoils are then placed on the liner and the new landscape is contoured to the previous ground level removing depressions caused by previous landfill settlement. Planting of seed mix, moorland mix and trees and shrubs will take place with restoration of stone walls, boundary walls and fencing. New drainage is being constructed to ensure that leachate does not pollute watercourses.
Speaking about the project, senior project manager, Greg Brett, said: “After a difficult start due to the atrocious weather in January and February and despite the current restrictions, we have made huge strides forward especially with the recent good weather as the capping works are best done in dry weather. On the landfill site, plant and machinery can quickly become bogged down and unsafe when the site is wet, so Aprils’ sunshine was very welcome and really helped us get ahead.
“We have taken every precaution to ensure that our team can work safely; our operatives are working at safe distances and generally working as individuals in enclosed earth-moving machinery. Arrangements have been made in welfare areas with extra cleaning and travel to reduce the risk of infection spread.”
Sugden End was used as a landfill for 34 years, from 1964 to 1998, with household, industrial and commercial waste tipped within a former valley. The project forms a significant part of Bradford Council’s capital investment programme.
Commenting on behalf of the Council, Cllr Sarah Ferriby said: “Eric Wright Civil Engineering in undertaking this work are supporting the wider work of the Council in tackling wider climate work. The Sugden End landfill restoration site positively enhances the beneficial uses of Green Belt by providing opportunities to retain and enhance landscapes, visual amenity and biodiversity, therefore supporting Green Belt requirements.”
