Concerns over scrapyard location after explosion

Concerns are being raised about the location of a scrapyard after incidents involving batteries and gas bottles being left or concealed in metal scrap.

A battery is thought to be responsible for a 13-hour fire in 2018 at Guernsey Scrap Metal, a private recycling firm on Bulwer Avenue, and gas bottles exploded in machinery in March and in May.

When the latest explosion happened volunteers, who were tending the neighbouring cemetery, said debris came over the fence.

Michael Grime, managing director, said safety had improved and in the past three-and-a-half years staff had intercepted more than 400 lithium-ion batteries and 155 gas bottles hidden in waste taken to the yard.

The yard sits not far from fuel storage, the gas bottling plant, the parish church and Longue Hougue reservoir.

On 20 May, cemetery committee volunteer Helen Godfrey was creating a bird bath by the scrap yard fence a gas bottle exploded.

"There was a huge bang and we saw something come over the green fence, and it was really scary," she said.

Another volunteer, Roger Baudains said: "All of a sudden this almighty bang and then smoke goes up and minute bits of particles came across the fence."

Church warden and St Sampson's Constable David Hannah said the scrap yard had outgrown its location.

He said the site was "too small for the volume of scrap that's going through".

David Hannah said pieces of debris from the yard had been found in the churchyard from time to time.

"I think it's inappropriate where it is, considering the closeness of these other vital industries," he said.

Grime defended the site's location saying the company had operated there for more than 30 years and the recent explosion had been contained on site without damage to neighbouring areas.

"Anywhere you are on the island is a risk," he said. "We have mitigation procedures in place and I believe our procedures are robust."

"Since 2018, It's been a rising tide in terms of the lithium-ion pandemic," Grime said.

The company said it had invested in thermal imaging cameras, isolated battery bunkers and drench tanks since the 2018 fire, and worked closely with regulators.

"It doesn't discharge us of our responsibility to do more," Grime said, but also urged islanders to take care what they throw away: "If they're not put in at the front end, it won't happen here."

BBC drone footage taken on the 27 May revealed the boundary fence between the scrap yard and Longue Hougue reservoir was broken and debris from the yard had fallen towards the water.

The former quarry holds about 1.16 billion litres of raw water, around a quarter of Guernsey's drinking water reserve.

Shown the footage during an interview with the BBC, Grime said it was the first he had seen of the issue and that the company would act on it.

"If that is metal, that's a concern, and we want to immediately deal with it, and we will," he said.

Guernsey Scrap Metal later confirmed the boundary fence had been breached. In a statement, the company said it had notified Guernsey Water and the Office of Environmental Health and Pollution Regulation and was working to rectify the issue.

Tobin Cook, director of environmental health and pollution regulation, said: "Additional action is being taken to prevent further escape of waste in the immediacy and long term."

Guernsey Water quality risk manager Daffyd Griffiths said waste "should not be falling into the reservoir and it is clearly unacceptable".

However, he said "given the large volume of water in the reservoir" the debris falling into the quarry "presented a very low risk to water quality".

Griffiths added: "The Office of Environmental Health and Pollution Regulation have carried out an inspection [and] improvements to the way material is contained within the site have been agreed."

Matt Roger, head of operations for Guernsey Fire and Rescue Service, said: "The site is recognised as a higher risk environment, but we are confident it is managed.

"If there was a fire, logistically the site works for us as it has good transport routes in and out of the site allowing for firefighters to work efficiently."

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