RESIDENTS in Tilbury and East Tilbury have been expressing concern about the amount of dust and debris coming from the new aggregates site run by Tarmac on the Tilbury2 terminal – the site of the former power station close to the Thames.

The site is used to recycle building materials which have been shipped in and refined products are then shipped out – including by river.

However, the recycling process is causing concern and resident say that their homes are now regularly being showered with dust – and also wooden shavings and dust from another recycling site which is adjacent, but outside the boundaries, of the new port.

The problem has been recognised by local ward councillor Allen Mayes, who is also Thurrock Council's portfolio holder for air quality – though in comments on social media he appears to be harking back to dust problems that long predate the opening of Tilbury2.

Those dust issues were highlighted on Thurrock Nub News in May last year.

One resident, Michelle Saunders, who has posted video footage of dust blowing from the site in recent days, says: "This is getting really bad now and happening with increasing frequency. Some days there isn't a problem but on others our houses, cars and gardens are getting showered.

"It can blow in both directions, towards Tilbury and the East Tilbury, where I know residents have also spoken of the problem.

Cllr Mayes took to social media to say: "I would like to point out that I have been the only elected official in Tilbury to talk about this subject outside of election times, plus even before I was elected.

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"I know this issue with dust has been going on for a very long time."

He then quoted examples of samples which Cllr Mayes says were independently tested in 2019 and not deemed a health hazard by health professionals, but he adds: "I still fundamentally disagree with that."

"However, I am not a medical professional.

"I have been pushing for an air quality review which would give us a true evidence base to know exactly what is going on; the independent testing gave us a small idea. However, we need more testing.

"I have seen many videos, received many emails and I have seen the dust myself on many. many occasions.

"I will never stop fighting for residents on this issue.

"The council has a new air quality officer starting in the next few weeks and my aim is to get the review going asap as a priority. Especially now we are as close to normal as we will get now living with covid."