2000 onwards
CONTINUES THE STORY OF THE ALBRIGHT AND WILSON SITE- WHATEVER NAME MAY BE ON THE APPLICATIONS.
DC/13/56432 Proposed demolition of tin shop and keg shop.
http___planapps.sandwell.gov.uk_WAM_doc_Other-704258.pdf_extension=
DC/13/56515 Proposed demolition of carbon shop and medical centre extensions.
DC/14/57489 Proposed part change of use of former police station to a band practice room for the Langley Band.
DC/14/57604 Proposed demolition of 2 sub stations.
DC/15/58210 Installation of replacement co-generation plant and CHP stack.
DC/15/58267 Demolition of creche, muster room, TCP plant building and TCP warehouse building
PD/18/01052 | Proposed demolition of the accomet complex, the chlorides plant complex and the engineering E.O. store
DC/00/368/48 The first application under the Rhodia era. This outline for a new Phosphorus acid flake building follows the same pattern as before with Albright and Wilson. “We’ve been doing it for years”, “it’s perfectly safe” etc.
DC/01/37622
An application which reveals the way in which contractors can operate for large companies. It confirms that a building was erected on land contaminated with white phosphorus. The following officer comments speak for themselves, and we cannot better them.
Battering up canal embankments- now that sounds rather familiar and a practice used at Rattlechain.
Built on white phosphorus foundations- WHAT LIES BENEATH TRINITY STREET?
DC/03/40945 The first application to appear online for the entire site. Yet only the decision notice is given on Sandwell Council’s website. Note the misspelt name “Rhodium Ltd”
DC/11/53278 A plan of the works for this application can be found below.
DC_11_53278-LOCATION_BLOCK_PLAN__A1_-503074
A fairly dull officers report can be read below
DC_11_53278-DELEGATED_OFFICER_REPORT-514157
The decision notice can be read below.
DC_11_53278-GRANT_PERMISSION-514077
DC/12/54249 The end of the effluent treatment plant- the toxic anus of the works erected under planning permission OB/240/65, and from which the toxic rubbish to rattlechain lagoon was disposed. According to Rhodia in the application below
“Unit has now come to end of useful life”. It was never of much use to anyone other than Albright and Wilson and Rhodia and was the death of wildlife. Another instance of erasing a piece of toxic history, as though it played an anonymous role in the works.
DC_12_54249-APPLICATION_FOR_PLANNING_PERMISSION_DEMOLITION_NOTIFICATION-561139
Note the comment disposal of “non recyclable materials to a licensed landfill site.”
A plan of the site can be found below
DC_12_54249-LOCATION_PLAN__A3_-562353
A detailed plan of the effluent system can be found below
DC_12_54249-PROPOSED_LAYOUT_FOR_STORMWATER_HANDLING___DOSING_EQUIPMENT__A3_-561140
The officers report can be read below
DC_12_54249-DELEGATED_REPORT-567394
The decision notice can be read below
DC_12_54249-GENERAL_PERMITTED_DEVELOPMENT_GRANT_DEMOLITION_CONDITIONAL_CONSENT-567391
. It will be interesting to see how they demolish it and to where the non recyclable material will be deposited. DON’T EVEN THINK OF IT!
DC/12/54840 Decision notice below
DC_12_54840-GRANTED_PERMISSION-606484
DC/12/54919 This application was for the demolition of the High Pressure laboratory as well as the medical centre- another building with a toxic past that has served its purpose. It has since been announced that Solvay only intend to demolish the extensions to this two storey building. (see DC/13/56515 below). Note the howler of a spelling mistake or was it a Freudian slip
DC_12_54919-APPLICATION_FOR_PLANNING_PERMISSION_DEMOLITION_NOTIFICATION-601621
Please state the reason why demolition needs to take place?
“Building are now longer used.” – Does this mean that the medical centre accident record requires its longer use and they want to demolish it with the patients still there?
It also states that non recylable material will be taken to a licensed landfill site- unnamed.
A design access statement from Rhodia is below
DC_12_54919-DESIGN___ACCESS_STATEMET-601625
An upside down plan can be found below
DC_12_54919-SITE_PLAN__A3_-601631
An officers report below -we beg to differ that there is no relevant history to this application.
DC_12_54919-DELEGATED_REPORT-606725
The proposed demolition method can be found below
DC_12_54919-MEANS_OF_DEMOLITION-606323
There are some incredible observations in this document about the rationale of Rhodia.
some observations- page 5 states ” due to the nature of the tests taking place, the building is designed to contain and protect the surrounding area in case of chemical explosion.”
page 6 “possibly small amounts of phosphorus in pipework and equipment”- now where have we heard that phrase before?
page 12-30 outlines the Rhodia site accident/alarm procedures and policies. We are glad they are so safety concious!
“(c) site toxic gas alarm
Oldbury site stores and uses chlorine and phosphine-two toxic gases. In the event of a release of toxic gas which might affect personnel on site, the toxic gas alarm would be sounded.”
- Do they intend to rig this up to Rattlechain lagoon also or set up a “toxic gas refuge room” for local residents?
- There is an “all clear” alarm- its just like the war- except there is more danger on the ground from this French/Belgian firm than overflying Nazis.
“AS PART OF THE ONGOING MANAGEMENT OF THE WORKS RANDOM DRUGS AND ALCOHOL TESTING MAY BE CARRIED OUT IN LINE WITH OUR POLICY.”
It’s so good to see that Quaker values still operate at Trinty Street after all these years- blaming their workforce ill health on something, anything other than their toxic chemicals.
The decision notice from the council is below.
DC_12_54919-GRANTED_DEMOLITION_CONSENT-606492
DC/13/56432 Proposed demolition of tin shop and keg shop.
DC_13_56432-DEMOLITION_NOTIFICATION_APPLICATION_FOR_PLANNING_PERMISSION-700496
This application still from Rhodia, even though branding on the site is now in the name of Solvay, reveals that many of the buildings at the Albright and Wilson site (from this era) are intended to be demolished.
The site Development plan below proposes 30 buildings to be demolished in the coming years. Included in this document are pictures of the two named buildings but does not for some reason show the lime bund which is also to be demolished.
DC_13_56432-SITE_DEVELOPMENT_PLAN-704258
Note the potential existence of “old P4 drains”- indicating that white phosphorus ran throughout the site as did its contamination. On page 8
7.4 Existing buildings/structures/plant
- “Demolition dust may contain chemical contaminants”
- “The sub-soil beneath and around the buildings may also be contaminated- and old p4 drain runs close to the building.”
Note however there is no plan to decontaminate the contaminated ground on which they stand.
A drawing of the proposed demolition areas on site can be viewed below
DC_13_56432-SITE_LOCATION_PLAN-700501
Some colour pictures of the tin shop and keg shed can be viewed below
DC_13_56432-DESIGN_ACCESS_STATEMENT-700499
An officer report can be read below.
DC_13_56432-DELEGATED_REPORT-704381
The decision notice can be read below.
DC_13_56432-GRANT_DEMOLITION_CONSENT-704398
DC/13/56515 Proposed demolition of carbon shop and medical centre extensions.
DC_13_56515-APPLICATION_FOR_PLANNING_PERMISSION-704222
Strangely, this application is made in the name of Solvay and not Rhodia. It appears that when they want to be seen “giving” something out to the community, this brand is used. The contaminated Rhodia moniker is used when they want to disassociate themselves with contaminated buildings.
The letter below to local residents appears on the council website. It advises that the two storey former medical centre proposed for demolition in application DC/12/54919 is now no longer taking place, and only the extensions to the building are to be removed. What this letter avoids is the reason behind this. It once again tries to involve the community by asking them what it may be able to be used for. Given that this site’s industrial chemical use, the options are probably limited.
DC_13_56515-COVERING_LETTER-704226
A drawing of the carbon shop and medical centre extension plan can be viewed below
DC_13_56515-LOCATION_PLAN-704225
Pictures of the buildings can be viewed below.
DC_13_56515-DESIGN_AND_ACCESS_STATEMENT-704224
The officers report can read below.
DC_13_56515-DELEGATED_REPORT-708694
Decision notice below
DC_13_56515-GRANT_DEMOLITION_CONDITIONAL_CONSENT-708703
DC/14/57489 Proposed part change of use of former police station to a band practice room for the Langley Band.
No doubt there is plenty of hot air circulating by some folk in this area.
DC/14/57604 Proposed demolition of 2 sub stations.
DC_14_57604-APPLICATION_FOR_PLANNING_PERMISSION-758209
This application appears to include both Solvay and “Rhodia Consumer Ltd” in the demolition of another abandoned building. The building is known as “no 2 substation”, and not as recorded on the council website planning application officers report 2 substations!
DC_14_57604-DELEGATED_REPORT-763565
A plan can be seen below.
DC_14_57604-SITE_LOCATION_BLOCK_PLANS-758989
A health and safety report and a picture of this can be found below.
DC_14_57604-HEALTH___SAFETY_PLAN-758990
Permission was granted for the demolition of 2 substations, which under the circumstances appears to be a total oversight on the part of Sandwell council in that they gave permission to demolish 2 separate buildings when only one was proposed.
DC_14_57604-GRANT_DEMOLITION_CONSENT-764503
DC/15/58210 Installation of replacement co-generation plant and CHP stack.
This application is currently in what appears to be limbo. A 24 metre high stack is proposed in the small print.
Further information and a photo is supplied in a design and access statement.
A Location drawing in the works can be seen HERE.
This letter from SMBC is what adds to the confusion. Although submitting the application, the letter appears to suggest that the council required more information, but it is not clear if Solvay actually submitted this. This may have resulted in the application being invalid.
DC/15/58267 Demolition of creche, muster room, TCP plant building and TCP warehouse building.
DC_15_58267-DEMOLITION_APPLICATION_FOR_PLANNING_PERMISSION-792508
This is a fairly major application involving demolition of four separate buildings. Namely Creche Building, Muster Room, TCP Plant Building and TCP Warehouse Building (Tri-calcium phosphate).
It is noted that Solvay intended to involve the building rubble went for “Disposal to be a licensed re-cycling facility to extract all recyclable materials. Non-recyclable materials to a licensed land fill site.”
The TCP warehouse building appears to have formerly been used as the di-methyl phosphite distribution plant and later a briquests warehouse.
A plan of these buildings is identified below
DC_15_58267-LOCATION_PLAN-792514
NB it should be noted that the location of the crèche building is not a million miles away from the application concerning DC/01/37622 where smoking ground was identified, but the officers delegated report below of course omits any mention of this.
DC_15_58267-DELEGATED_OFFICER_REPORT-797699
A design and access statement and pictures of the buildings can be read below
DC_15_58267-DESIGN_AND_ACCESS_STATEMENT-792512
The decision notice can be read below.
DC_15_58267-GRANT_DEMOLITION_CONDITIONAL_CONSENT-797537
PD/18/01052 | Proposed demolition of the accomet complex, the chlorides plant complex and the engineering E.O. store
More demolition of old Albright and Wilson era buildings was sort and approved with this application.
PD_18_01052-GRANT_DEMOLITION_CONSENT-969894
The application can be read below.
PD_18_01052-DEMOLITION_APPLICATION_FOR_PLANNING_PERMISSION-964762
A plan of the areas to be demolished is shown below.
Pictures of the buildings can be seen below.
PD_18_01052-DESIGN_AND_ACCESS_STATEMENT-964764
The officer report for this application can be read below.
PD_18_01052-DELEGATED_OFFICER_REPORT-975560