A RECYCLING plant destroyed by a major blaze last night was closed in September after it was deemed a major fire risk, The Northern Echo can reveal.

Shee Recycling in Birtley, near Chester-le-Street, is already the subject of a criminal investigation and was forced to shut down last year after several visits from the Environment Agency and officers from Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service.

The site’s operators were encouraged to bring the site into compliance with fire prevention guidance, including reducing waste volumes and introducing fire breaks between piles of waste.

The Northern Echo:

Items being stored at the site include large oil drums containing hazardous waste, cutting equipment, batteries and fuel canisters all of which increased the risk of fire.

The Environment Agency has said appropriate action was not taken and a Restriction Order was secured at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court on September 23 prohibiting anyone from entering or depositing more waste on the site.

Since the restriction order was imposed, access to the site has been secured with Shee Recycling unable to access the site other than under limited circumstances agreed by and under the supervision of the Environment Agency.

The Northern Echo:

The site was closed in September

Last night, at around 11pm, a major fire broke out and this morning emergency services are continuing to deal with the aftermath.

The industrial site is adjacent to East Coast Mainline and the Rowletch Burn.

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: “We are supporting partners including Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Services to deal with a fire at Shee Recycling in Birtley.

“We are working to identify and mitigate environmental impacts and offering advice and guidance on managing any run-off water from the fire.

“We have also deployed air quality monitoring equipment to assist the multi-agency response and to support the UK Health Security Agency in providing public health advice.

“Our priority is managing the potential impact of this incident on the health, safety and wellbeing of people and the environment.”

Birtley fire: Here is what we know so far

Nine fire engines and an aerial ladder platform were called to the scene at the height of the fire.

The Northern Echo:

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Peter Heath, of Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We are currently still in attendance of an incident at a commercial property on Durham Road in Birtley.

“However we are on top of the incident and have downgraded from a major incident to a significant fire and have begun scaling back our presence.

“We will be on site for the rest of today and most of tomorrow ensuring that the site is safe and beginning our investigation into the cause of the fire.

“Thankfully there are no causalities at this incident and none of our firefighters have been injured in tackling the fire.

“We would like to thank our partners for working with us in this situation and keeping the community safe.

“There is still a significant amount of smoke in the air and as the wind picks up and heads north it will begin to move towards the A1.

“So please keep your windows and doors closed and stay away from the site where possible.”

Shee Recycling has declined to comment. 

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