Wrexham Council has announced that work on the former landfill site in Llay which now forms part of the Alyn Waters Country park is necessary following extensive monitoring of the leachate levels on the site.
The site, which takes up approximately 5% of the Country Park, was capped in 2001. Unfortunately, checks on the site have revealed that the cap has not performed as well as predicted and rainwater is entering the waste resulting in higher than expected leachate levels.
The leachate is removed regularly but there is evidence that it has at times “overtopped” the area into the surrounding land. Although the area is safe and there is no danger to public or wildlife, if this situation is allowed to continue there is a risk that it could eventually contaminate the River Alyn.
Wrexham’s Executive Board received a report about the options available which were to do nothing, maintain the current status quo, install a leachate treatment facility or re-cap and re-profile the site. The Board agreed the long term sustainable solution was to deal with the issues at the site which is considered the preferred way forward with the benefits outweighing the difficulties.
Extensive research and consultation with engineering and environmental experts has found that there is only one sustainable long term solution; that is to re-cap the site. Such work would involve re-profiling the existing shape of the site to better shed water, followed by the installation of a geosynthetic capping layer over the existing clay. This type of work will inevitably require considerable earth moving at the site and mean that the site will be closed to the public. WCBC do not intend to remove the existing clay cap and therefore the old waste should not be exposed across the site. Wrexham will not re-open the site to accept more household waste. It is expected the works will take between 2 and 3 years with the site being restored completely when finished.
Residents living by the area have been notified by letter and will be invited to attend regular liaison meetings to keep them informed of developments at the site. Visitors to the Park will also be kept up to date with updates being posted around the affected area and information on display at the Visitor Centre at the Park. The majority of the park will remain open including the Visitor Centre whilst works are ongoing.
Sarah Evans, Principal Environment Protection Manager
“We appreciate that this news may cause concern to those living close to the Park and regular visitors. We have undertaken to keep them informed and up to date as work progresses. We will also work closely with colleagues in the Environment department and external advisors to safeguard the ecology of the area and to ensure the site is returned to its former state.”
