Beddington Farmlands Conservation and Access Management Committee meeting minutes Thursday 12th December 2019 16.00

CAMC members:

Cllr Tim Foster – Chair, Derek Coleman – Sutton Branch – London Wildlife Trust - Conservation Science Group member Adrian Frost – Viridor Mike Stafford – Viridor

Advisory panel:

Andy Webber – London Borough of Sutton - Head of Planning David Warburton – London Borough of Sutton – Senior Biodiversity Officer - Chair of Conservation Science Group Simon Chalcraft – London Borough of Sutton - Planning Enforcement Officer Marcus Kohler – MKA Ecology - Site Ecologist Richard Aylard – Thames Water – Director of Sustainability Dan Cooke – Pennon Group – Director of Sustainability Andrew Turner - Madano, supporting Viridor – Secretariat

Item Action 1.0 Introductions & Apologies

1.1 Viridor welcomed members of the Conservation and Access Management Committee (CAMC) to the Visitor Centre at the Energy Recovery Facility. A short safety orientation was completed, and all members watched the HomeSafe induction video.

1.2 Cllr Tim Foster, as chair of the Conservation and Access Management Committee welcomed members to the CAMC and made introductions.

It was noted that Terry Murphy, Landfill Director for Viridor had now left the business and Mike Stafford was introduced as the Viridor Head of Contracts for the South East and formerly the landfill manager of the Beddington site. Mike reported directly to Terry’s replacement – the Head of Major Contracts and Landfill.

Apologies were shared from:

● Mathew Frith (London Wildlife Trust) ● Cllr Ben Andrew – Vice-Chair, London Borough of Sutton ● Cllr Jillian Green – London Borough of Sutton

● Tom Sweeney – Beddington Community Representative

Cllr Foster confirmed that the community representative, Stephen Debourde 1.3 had issued his resignation from the CAMC in the days ahead of the meeting. It was agreed AT that the CAMC would write to the Hackbridge and Beddington Corner Neighbourhood Development Group to seek a replacement community representative.

Derek Coleman commented that as part of the last CAMC meeting it was agreed that all representatives would nominate a second representative to represent their role in their 1.4 absence. Derek felt it was disappointing that no alternative representatives were present at the meeting. It was noted that a number of the apologies were last minute circumstances.

Andrew Turner asked if all members present had received a copy of the minutes of the last meeting - hard copies were also available at the meeting.

Andrew asked if members believed the minutes were representative of the last meeting. Members present agreed that subject to a number of small amendments, as identified on AT Google Documents prior to the meeting, the minutes were representative and were signed off. Andrew took an action to upload a copy to the Viridor website.

2.0 Review of terms of reference changes

2.1 It was noted at the last meeting, the (Annual) General Meeting, that the London Borough of Sutton would review the terms of reference and Andy Webber would conclude the materiality between the changes. He would then seek guidance from the interim monitoring officer as to whether the Environment and Neighbourhood Committee was required to review the terms of reference.

2.2 Andy Webber took an action to confirm changes between adopted terms of reference and AW the consultation with Andrew Turner within one month of the CAMC meeting.

3.0 Update of restoration progress since the last meeting

Adrian Frost offered a short update of the work completed at the Farmlands since the last 3.1 meeting. Cllr Foster declared that he had undertaken a site walkover with local representatives Tom Sweeney and Stephen Debourde on the 6th December. It was noted that this was a very helpful to contextualise the progress and the scale of the Farmlands.

It was agreed that in future, the CAMC will be offered a walkover of the Beddington Farmlands ahead of future meetings. AT

3.2 Adrian shared hard copies of the restoration programme, noting that these had been shared with the London Borough of Sutton ahead of the Housing, Economy and Business Committee in October. Adrian confirmed that this had not been updated since the meeting, but a full programme review would take place on the 16th December and activities would be re-baselined. Cllr Foster noted that he would like to see timing references on progress at future meetings.

There was a short conversation around the infilling of the large lagoons on behalf of Thames Water towards the east of the site. These were previously emptied of sewage sludge and were refilled with inert clays and soils.

Adrian noted that restoration and capping work was progressing well, with materials in the 3.3 clay stockpile towards the south of the site being used to cap the landfill site. The landfill site was utilised by Viridor during periods of ERF downtime in October and November and the community liaison group was informed as agreed with CAMC at last meeting. Viridor has submitted an application with the Environment Agency to start importing inert soils to complete the restoration levels as approved in the planning application.

There was a discussion around the final designs of the wet grassland phase one. Copies of 3.4 the final designs, as submitted to the Conservation Science Group on 6th December, were shared and it was agreed that these designs showed a less linear ridge and furrow design than the WWT designs, channel design following feedback from a wet grassland expert.

Cllr Foster asked members of the CAMC, if subject to CSG comments, they were comfortable with the phase one wet grassland designs being approved and Viridor completing the work as agreed with the CSG. All members were in consent.

It was confirmed that there had been no further activity on the phase one, south of pylons, wet grassland since the last meeting, except a meeting with Roger Wardle to discuss how to finish off the designs from WWT. However, the Phase 2 (north of pylons) location had continued to be excavated and the ‘bulk dig’ was now bordering the ERF construction village. The clay stockpile had been removed from above the southern wet grassland area (Phase 3) ahead of further work taking place in the New Year.

With regards to Phase 3 and the SAM site, Adrian confirmed that he was investigating the flows of water across the Farmlands, and in liaison with his wet grassland specialist, was of RA/DC the understanding that this part of the site received water from the river terrace gravels running alongside the clay layer under the site, rather than from the . It was noted that the river Wandle overflow channel was only a trickle of water. It was agreed that Dan Cooke and Richard Aylard would meet to discuss the ways in which to sustainably feed the wet grasslands on the site.

3.5 Adrian confirmed that he was liaising with the laboratory that was conducting trials into the deliverability of acidic grassland at the Beddington Farmlands. Adrian was expecting a technical report to explain the details of the testing programme, however initial findings were more positive than initially expected. There was a potential to use two methods to acidify the soils through impregnating the soil or spraying a suitable substance on the surface and ploughing this into the soil.

Derek Coleman and David Warburton noted that the acidic grassland trials had been ongoing for a number of months and that it was imperative the report of the lab trials and recommendations for field trials were provided as soon as possible to the CSG for consideration.

Cllr Foster also commented that it would be helpful to conduct a field trial on the Farmlands to understand the deliverability of this habitat. Adrian noted the caution around potential leaching into the river Wandle. This has been considered by the CSG over many months and can, probably be mitigated for but this requires the production of the report for recommendations for the field trials.

Andrew Turner took an action to prepare a briefing note of technical report once Viridor had received the document.

Derek Coleman and David commented that they needed to fully review the technical report, to understand the risks and ramifications of using acidogenic compounds on the site.

Adrian noted that the meadowland, towards the south of the site, had been mowed, following the instructions from David and Marcus back in June, and slot seeded, to AT 3.6 increase species diversity as per the Restoration Management Plan. Cllr Foster noted that this was positive.

David Warburton added that the over seeding in some areas was a necessity due to the majority of the habitat having not been managed appropriately over the years since creation.

Adrian noted that Viridor were pumping water from the northern wet grassland into the Hundred Acre part of the site to dampen the historic sludge lagoons. It was agreed that the long-term management of that habitat was to be discussed on the 13th December 3.7 when Dan Cooke and Richard Aylard were meeting.

Derek Coleman was thankful for the work of dampening the sludge beds and noted this was very positive for the target species, especially lapwing, but other wintering species benefited from the disturbance to the sludge beds on 100 Acre and SAM site.

David Warburton noted this would need to occur for the coming years until the wet RA/DC grassland was established.

Adrian confirmed that he had appointed a consultant to develop a five-year tree planting 3.8 and management contract for the tree planting requirements included in the Restoration Management Plan along with the SDEN tree planting requirement along the permissive footpath. This was presented to the CSG in December.

The intention was to appoint an overall management scheme and winter works schedule ready for next year that had been reviewed and agreed, in principle by the CSG but required modifications to deal with winter works, the timing and intensity of management. This would include replanting the permissive footpath, following a beating up survey, and the removal of willows to the south of the site.

David Warburton and Derek Coleman confirmed it was important to conduct these works to replant the permissive footpath in accordance with the planning permission and to remove vegetation before the breeding bird season. The CSG would prepare comments by mid-January. Cllr Foster asked, if subject to the CSG comments, the CAMC were comfortable with the winter works schedule and tree planting contract being placed. All were in agreement.

3.9 Cllr Foster enquired into the future of the ERF construction village now that the ERF was operational. Adrian confirmed it was being investigated if it could be relocated to a smaller part of the site to enable the wet grassland activity to continue in the spring of 2020.

Cllr Foster then asked if the breeding bird season would impact this wet grassland work, 3.10 Marcus confirmed that the wintering birds should not impact this and the barren aspect of the landscape (being a car park) should not impact the future works, although the time between abandonment and clearance was critical to prevent any birds taking an interest in that part of the site.

David Warburton noted that he had conducted two rounds of interviews for the Beddington Farmlands Warden role, and offered one candidate the position. However, the candidate was unable to start the role, following HR reviews. There was a discussion 3.11 around if the funding for the role was sufficient. Marcus and David confirmed it was a very good salary for a warden role when benchmarked to other similar roles.

There was a discussion around livestock management at the Farmlands. It was noted that Marcus had commissioned tender submissions for the use of livestock for the Farmlands in 2017, which were not progressed. Marcus Kohler agreed to share this document ahead of the next meeting.

It was agreed that the most appropriate method of engaging with livestock was to commission a grazier to advise on the necessary requirements. David confirmed that the London Borough of Sutton work with the Downlands Partnership to rent stock as required. Volunteer members of the community are then trained to help check on the stock, which leads to increased ownership of the stock and site by members of the public.

Richard Aylard noted in Thames Water’s experience that a grazier is best placed to understand the technical details, with remote staff onsite needing to know what to do onsite if there is an immediate issue. MK

Cllr Foster asked if the fencing that had been installed around the site was appropriate stock fencing. David noted that the fencing was not appropriate as it was not high tensile steel. David noted he had previously advised Viridor that the fencing being installed was not the appropriate specification for stock fencing in accordance with the planning permission.

Cllr Foster asked David Warburton to provide images of suitable cattle for the Farmlands, David confirmed that he could provide some pictures of cattle grazing at Downs.. Adrian noted he was currently developing the individual Habitat Management Plans and within each document would be details on the appropriate stock management regime.

Andrew reiterated that if members of the community were concerned by activity to contact [email protected].

4.0 Permissive footpath project

Adrian continued to note that Viridor had conducted a full review of the deliverability of 4.1 the cycleway at the Beddington Farmlands. In the Restoration Management Plan this was proposed to follow a route running north to south, from north of the northern lake to enter into Beddington Park to the south. A briefing note had been circulated to the members of the CSG and was available at the CAMC.

Adrian Frost confirmed that to deliver this cycleway on the Farmlands would require extensive landscaping to create a Sustrans compliant gradient, the access to Beddington Park could be delivered but it would meet a fence line rather than link into a footpath. There is no current funding or capacity within LBS to fund and extension of the cycleway from Beddington Park through the northern tree line to meet the cycleway on Beddington Farmlands.

Over the coming years the landfill site (on which the cycleway would be delivered) would be subject to differential settlement. Adrian explained that this could result in the cycleway surface cracking and requiring ongoing maintenance.

It was noted that following informal conversations with members of the community, CAMC and CSG, Viridor would like to propose creating the cycleway along the current route of the permissive footpath. This was the natural north/south desire line to travel for cyclists by connecting Hackbridge and Mitcham Junction stations.

The permissive footpath was not previously landfilled and would enable the delivery of the footpath in a much quicker timeline. This would then enable the current proposed cycleway to become a mown path for pedestrian movement, reducing the requirement for extensive hard landscaping and maintenance.

4.2 Cllr Foster mentioned that feedback had been received that the access to some of the bird AF hides would not suitable for all members of the community. Andrew confirmed that as part of the revised cycleway proposal, the three bird hides linking into the permissive footpath would also have a Sustrans compliant entrance and floor surface, enabling full access

Cllr Foster asked members of the CAMC if they were supportive of this approach. There was general agreement that this proposal should be progressed with more detailed plans presented to the CSG and CAMC.

4.3 It was noted that the community would like to see an east/west access delivered on the Farmlands. Derek noted that it would likely not be appropriate to enable this along the main entrance road for the ERF. Adrian and Dan agreed this would not be sensible. However, it was confirmed that Viridor was supporting the London Borough of Sutton to deliver an east/west access near Asda on Beddington Lane to the south of the SAM site.

It was taken as an action for Dan Cooke and Richard Aylard to discuss the potential of Mile Road being an additional east/west access point for the Farmlands at the visit on the 13th RA/DC December 2019.

4.4 There was a short discussion around the bird hides located on the permissive footpath. Derek Coleman noted that he had received correspondence from members of the community that they were greatly received, but the viewing hatches were too high for some stakeholders.

Andrew confirmed that Viridor had recently held a feedback workshop with members of the community and additional lower viewing hatches would be installed along with benches in the coming weeks. This learning would also be replicated in the future bird hides. 5.0 Energy Recovery Facility project Mike Stafford delivered an update on the Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) confirming that 5.1 the facility had achieved formal takeover from Viridor’s construction partners and final small works were being completed across the site before the contractors depart. The ERF was now in its reliability testing phase.

The ERF was now supporting the South London Waste Partnership (SLWP) to treat non- recyclable waste from the London boroughs of Croydon, Kingston, Merton and Sutton with waste being treated 7 days a week.

There was a short discussion around the waste deliveries coming to the site. Mike 5.2 confirmed that in the same way that deliveries of non-recyclable waste formerly came to the landfill site, this material is now delivered to the ERF. The majority of the waste for the ERF came from the SLWP, however Viridor did receive some material from businesses and third parties.

It was confirmed that over Christmas the ERF would be operating and that deliveries would be managed to ensure there was enough waste. The SLWP would be running additional deliveries over the Christmas period to catch up. Mike noted that the landfill site will close to non-inert waste on the 31st December 2019 and following this time, if the ERF was not operational waste would need to be diverted away from the Beddington site in accordance with Viridor’s contingency arrangements.

Cllr Foster mentioned the poor state of traffic in the area surrounding the Valley Park and Mike confirmed that the SLWP delivered material to the ERF on refuse collection vehicles and third parties were encouraged to use (larger) articulated lorries to minimise vehicle movements.

Mike also confirmed that each year there was a planned maintenance shutdown at the ERF, and in 2020 this was planned to be between March and April. During this time the waste bunker would have capacity to store material from the SLWP in controlled conditions, however some material may be delivered to the Waste Transfer Station.

Marcus confirmed that this was the start of the breeding bird season and any influx of gulls 5.3 (that would be attracted to the waste), would impact them. Marcus asked if the shutdown would always have to take place in April. Mike confirmed that Viridor operated a fleet of MS

ERFs and also was obliged to recognise supporting ERFs in the South East and their shut down periods but would revert with an answer.

5.4 Mike added that Viridor was in discussions with its construction partners to secure access and decommissioning of the construction carpark and associated construction village to enable access for the Landfill restoration team to continue the wet grassland creation.

5.5 Since the last meeting of the CAMC, swift boxes had been installed on the side of the ERF building. he brown roof of the ERF administration building.

Andrew added that the Sutton Decentralised Energy Network project was due to start commissioning the pipeline in December, however there would be no impact on the 5.6 Farmlands or permissive footpath.

Andrew also noted that the visitor centre at the ERF was now complete. Viridor had received two visits from the SLWP, and in the coming months the Beddington North 5.7 Neighbourhood Forum and community groups would be invited to the site. It was suggested that the CAMC would be invited for a tour of the ERF in the coming months.

6.0 Community issues 6.1 It was noted that the Beddington Farm Bird Group (BFBG) were hoping to finalise their 2018 bird report in the coming weeks. Derek confirmed that this report summarised the species sighted on the Farmlands in the previous year.

Andrew added that Viridor had continued to commit to supplying funding to print the report. However, there were some small accuracy points that required revision along with Marcus Kohler and the London Borough of Sutton signing off the document.

Cllr Foster suggested that the Beddington Farm Bird Group could provide members of the CAMC with a copy of the finalised report. Derek confirmed he would provide copies. DCo

Andy Webber commented on the recent London Borough of Sutton, Housing, Economy 6.2 and Business (HEB) Committee. Following a community petition, that reached c. 6,500 signatures, seeking the London Borough of Sutton to enforce its planning conditions upon Viridor at the Beddington Farmlands. It was decided that the HEB Committee would hear a reading of the petition and invite Viridor and the petitioners to present to the Committee.

It was noted that this was originally due to take place in summer 2019, however there were no petition sponsors available to present the document.

Dan Cooke noted the petition, but also noted that the petition was now largely outdated following strong restoration progress in 2019.

Andy Webber continued that Peter Alfrey of the Beddington Farm Bird Group and Lysanne Horrox of the Hackbridge and Beddington Corner Neighbourhood Development Group delivered a short presentation on the delays to restoration and their impact on the Beddington Farmlands, conservation, the Energy Recovery Facility and called for no future delays through to 2023.

Dan Cooke and Adrian Frost delivered a restoration update on behalf of Viridor and then received questions from the Committee. Cllr Foster attended the Committee and noted that it was accepted that some things had fallen behind the schedule. Cllr Foster noted that there were some mitigating factors and that now the CAMC had reformed it has made significant progress.

Cllr McCoy, the Chair of the HEB Committee passed the motion that Viridor would return on a six monthly basis to present to the HEB Committee, which was a meeting held in 6.3 public. Andy Webber confirmed it was a constructive session, Dan Cooke also noted that Viridor had then conducted useful discussions with the petitioners following the meeting.

7.0 Review of communications activity

Andrew Turner offered an update of the communications activity supporting the

Beddington Farmlands site. Andrew confirmed that the monthly Beddington Farmlands 7.1 restoration snapshots continue to be posted covering the activities that have been

completed in the last month. These are shared with stakeholders by email and also posted

on Viridor and the London Borough of Sutton’s social media accounts to reach the

maximum number of community members. Andrew also encouraged members of the

CAMC to share the snapshots with their community networks.

Andrew confirmed that in the spring of 2020, Viridor will conduct a review of the

Farmlands Restoration Roadmap to update on progress in the last year. This would see the

progress bars move along the tube map and as new activities commenced, new train lines

would be added.

Cllr Foster noted the that the restoration snapshots had been helpful with increasing the

communications activity around the Farmlands site, however confirmed that in 2020 it

would be more engaging to look at the future and starting ‘selling the vision for the AT Farmlands’ with images of cattle rather than sludge drying beds. Andrew took an action to

develop the ‘excitement’ of the snapshots.

Andrew noted that Viridor had invited the members of London Borough of Sutton, 7.2 Housing, Economy and Business Committee to visit the Beddington Farmlands ahead of

the 24th March HEB Committee. Viridor would be presenting a restoration update at the

Committee and Dan commented that it would be helpful for the members of Committee ALL to visit the site to contextualise the update. This invitation was extended to members of

the CAMC.

Viridor would continue to host an open day in spring/summer 2020 to enable members of 7.3 the community to visit the site. David Warburton noted that the Beddington Farmlands

Warden would be able to support with open day events in the future, guided walks and

community habitat management for smaller works helping to increase ownership at the

site.

Derek Coleman noted he used to lead London-wide Natural History Society walks on the

Farmlands, however due to access restrictions to the Farmlands these had been

postponed. Derek commented that he would like to see these walks continue in the

future.

7.4 Cllr Foster noted, on his recent walk, the scale of the Farmlands and how typically many

members of the community only see the Hackbridge portion of the site. On this walk Cllr

Foster noticed an area with sparrows feeding in bird feeders. Marcus confirmed that these

would likely be house sparrows, rather than tree sparrows.

David Warburton confirmed that in the future he would like to see interpretation boards

installed on the Beddington Farmlands including information about the various habitats,

birdlife species that might be seen and orientation for members of the community on the

site.

7.5

Derek suggested that a chalkboard of monthly bird sightings could be installed in each bird hide. Andrew suggested that, once appointed, the Warden could maintain this information for members of the community.

It was noted that there had been no progress on the action for Viridor and the Beddington Farm Bird Group to develop a series of information boards for the existing bird hides on DCo/ the permissive footpath. Andrew and Derek took an action to present initial drafts at the AT next meeting of the CAMC.

8.0 Any other business

It was noted, that at the recent CSG meeting, there had been a discussion around if there 8.1 was a possibility that Thames Water could develop a habitat management plan for two

large lagoons that had been infilled to the south east of the Farmlands. Derek Coleman

confirmed that if they were left untended, they would grass over and be of little value

ecologically to target species. There was a short discussion around the potential for these

lagoons to offer additional wetland habitat for the site.

Richard Aylard agreed he would understand the possibilities to create open water pools on

the site but also would need to confirm with Thames Water operational colleagues what

the plans for the expansion of the existing Thames Water site were. It was agreed that this RA/DC would be a topic of conversation when Viridor and Thames Water met on the 13th

December.

David Warburton noted that this would be critical in the long-term plan for the Thames 8.2 Water land and that this had an opportunity to feed into the habitat creation around the

Prologis development at Pongo Park, as well as link the Phase 3 wet grassland and the

SAM site

9.0 Date of Next Meeting The date of the next meeting was discussed, and it was confirmed that CAMC meetings

occurred the week after the Conservation Science Group (CSG). As such it was noted that

the next CSG meeting would take place on 6th March. 9.1

Following a discussion around the availability of CAMC members it was confirmed the next

CAMC meeting would occur on the 19th March at 16.00.

Future meetings would now be held in the Beddington ERF visitor centre, the location of

this meeting.