1990’s
BCS 875 Approved 14/05/09 Construction of new phosphine plant
BCS 1001 This application gives some significant background information to the type of elemental phosphorus used at the site and the “organic impurities” within it. Note the reply to question 9 an the application form. It is scarcely believable that a planning officer would swallow such a ludicrous lie as this, but that’s the Black Country Development Corporation for you.
BCS 1147 This application involved the infilling of the millpond located at the works site. The pool was allegedly used for water cooling purposes but this has to be highly dubious given the long history of the site. It is inconceivable that it was not contaminated, that is if it had not been used as a waste tip previously. The following letters show the council’s concern at this unsanctioned work, and the reply from Albright and Wilson. The area in question which they allege to be “uncontaminated” was part of the MOS factory phosphorus production area. A claim which is utter nonsense is never investigated it seems when the “Arthurs” from Trinity Street give a dubious explanation of events.
BCS 1412 This application contains a file note objection from local residents living in Westmead Drive Langley. “We feel it will greatly add to the already heavy pollution we have in the Langley area, besides being unsafe.”
They also describe an incident involving phosphorus vapour being released from the site forming clouds of phosphorus pentoxide the year before.
“This is what happened in the emergency recently and the public were told that the material was “harmless”. “
I believe this incident to be a fire which I have looked at in this post, where 50 tonnes of phosphorus are reported to have exploded at the Oldbury factory sending a cloud plume of toxic gas and vapour into the air.
This was also the claim made concerning the fire at Portishead by the same delegated individuals who faced the press.
It has to be stated that the fumes coming out of both of these AW sites were less toxic than the lies being pumped out by their PR and works management at this time.
BCS 1704 An application connected to Hazardous substance consents
A plan of the changes on the site can be found HERE
BCS 2315 A plan below shows the extent of the works as it stood. Note the pyrene warehouse which is now known as “the customised liquids blending plant”.
BCS 3048 ANOTHER PLAN OF THE WORKS AS IT STOOD IN 1995
BCS 3778 ANOTHER PLAN OF THE WORKS SHOWING PLANT ARRANGEMENT AS IT THEN STOOD.
BCS 3849 This application resulted in a fire which was reported in the Express and Star newspaper. Note there is no mention of potential asbestos in the roofing being renovated- the Fire Brigade and Rhodia intent to play down the risk- a recurring theme.
BCS 4142 And so the final planning application ever as Albright and Wilson, after 50 years of a highly dubious planning system that was rarely questioned. It was for a mini police station within the works. It could be argued that “the law” had moved into the bowels of the Trinity Street site, after years of it never giving the many long suffering residents of the area any recompense whatsover. It pays to have FRIENDS in high places- but that’s another story.