Work continues on the installation of the temporary capping layer on the southern side of Cell 6, required by the Environment Agency (EA) under a formal compliance notice. Good, steady progress has been made over the past month, and we want to update residents both on that progress and on a request we have now made to the EA regarding the completion date.
As previously reported, the exceptionally hot, dry and windy conditions experienced over the last few weeks made it difficult to deploy, position and weld the geomembrane to the exacting standard the engineering specification requires. More recently, the weather has swung the other way, with spells of heavy rain bringing further disruption. Both extremes reduce the number of safe working windows available for this kind of specialist installation.
Rather than let these conditions compromise the quality of the finished capping system, Transwaste has formally asked the EA to extend the current compliance date of 6 July 2026 by a further two weeks. This is a deliberate, considered request rather than a sign of a problem: the geomembrane provides a critical, long term seal over the cell, and it is far better to take the time needed to install it properly than to rush the final stages in unsuitable conditions. Getting it right first time means a stronger, more durable capping system and less risk of remedial work being needed later.
We want to reassure residents that this request reflects careful, safety-led engineering practice rather than a lack of effort. Transwaste and its contractors have continued to commit all available resources to the works, including working weekends, and will take every suitable weather window between now and completion. EA engineers were on site for a full inspection this week and were able to see the current conditions and the practical constraints involved for themselves.
We will be working again over the weekend and, as before, a small number of gas extraction wells in the working area will need to be temporarily disconnected as part of the capping process, and this may lead to a short-term increase in the potential for odour. Wells are being reinstated promptly as each section of capping is completed, and the remaining extraction network continues to be run as efficiently as possible. Odour monitoring continues across the site, with any necessary adjustments made without delay.
We will update residents again once we have the EA’s response, and as the works move into their final stages. Thank you, as ever, for your patience while we make sure this important piece of engineering is delivered to the highest quality and safety standards.
