PUBLIC sector agencies have had to foot the £250,000 bill it will cost to put out the fire at Lawrence Recycling.

Wyre Forest District Council, Worcestershire County Council, Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service and the Environment Agency will join forces to pay for the demolition of two fire-damaged bays and further fire fighting.

The agencies have stepped it after it emerged that Lawrence Recycling will be unable to meet the costs at this time, but steps will be taken to seek to recover the public sector’s expenditure.

The blaze broke out on Sunday, June 16 and has been smouldering for the last month.

Plans have been made for the two fire-damaged bays at the Stourport Road site to be demolished on Monday in order to make it safe for specialist contractors to remove waste. 

Unburnt waste is already being removed from the main building at the site and taken to landfill in order to create space that will allow the burning waste to be moved to the northern side of the site where there are interceptor traps for drainage.

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service will then douse the burning material to put out the fire, with the run off water being captured in the interceptor traps and tankered away by contractors organised by the Environment Agency.

The water will be safely disposed of elsewhere and the extinguished waste will be returned to its original location.

Misting equipment will be deployed on Friday in order to minimise dust and smoke and dousing will start as soon as the safe demolition allows. It is expected the fire will be out next week.

Disturbing the burning material and moving it prior to dousing is due to temporarily to increase the grey-white smoke that is emitted from the site.

Wyre Forest District Council is organising further air quality monitoring to be undertaken during this period and the results will be published on its website.

Public Health England has confirmed its advice to residents that the risks to their health are low. However because any smoke is an irritant, it can make people’s eyes and throat sore.

People with asthma and other respiratory conditions may be particularly susceptible to the smoke and should carry and use their medication as usual.

The general advice therefore remains that, if possible, people should try to remain out of the smoke.

A briefing session for businesses located near to the Lawrence’s site has been held today to brief them on the plans and the steps that they need to consider in order providing an appropriate working environment for their staff.

Ian Miller, chief executive of Wyre Forest District Council who chaired the meeting of the agencies, said: “The agencies have listened to local residents’ concerns. We have continuously reviewed the situation regarding putting out the fire, while protecting public health and the environment.

“The recent hot weather, changes to water levels and temperatures resulted in different conditions for the agencies to consider.

“Coupled with information that the fire was likely to burn for longer than first estimated, we have taken decisive action to bring it to an end more quickly.”