City of Bradford MDC scooped the award for Best communications/stakeholder engagement for its Manywells landfill remediation project
Manywells quarry was tipped as a landfill site during the 1990s but the site owner/operator went into liquidation in autumn 2001. The site was not properly capped and landscaped presenting a risk of contamination leaving the site in the form of migrating gas (methane and CO2) and polluted water (leachate).
There was considerable concern within the local community and from councillors that this had been allowed to happen and that the site would continue to present a major hazard and an eyesore if not dealt with effectively. Following bankruptcy proceedings, the site became the property of "the Crown" and was later bought by Bradford Council at nominal cost to ensure control of the site was gained.
Because of ‘significant pollutant linkages' from landfill gas and leachate from the site threatening human health and the environment, the Council took the pioneering step of ‘determining' the site as contaminated using powers under Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. DEFRA is supporting the remediation from its contaminated land capital programme. The whole project will cost around £4-5m and remediation works should be completed by 2011.
Actions and achievements
In the early days, public meetings with residents were arenas of fear, anger, conflict and disillusionment with public regulators. Bold use of legislation, robust project management arrangements, strong leadership, the assessment of risks and good contract management have been core. Team members have embraced an open approach to problem-solving and been keen to review "lessons learnt". They participate in the Council's new Project Management Network to spread experience and good practice.
A key part of the project's success was a communications strategy to inform and engage the community and ward members, including regular newsletters and the setting up of the Manywells Community Working Group which has been instrumental in restoring faith that the site is now under effective control and that it will be restored.
The aims of the working group were:
- To allow the community to feel more involved in the project
- To develop a better understanding of some of the issues facing the council, and the concerns and fears of the community
The project communications strategy covered workshops, briefings, communications with ward councillors, a members bulletin, neighbourhood forum meetings, community newsletters, web pages and a media protocol.
The efforts and methods used to engage the local community have been crucial in turning round perception of site progress and gaining trust of the public and have been identified as "best practice" within the council.
