News

The Pollution Prevention and Control (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) SR 2011/402 make various amendments to the Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations (Northern Ireland) SR 2003/46 by:

• allowing a permit to temporarily remain in force in the event of a permit holder's death;
• removing the burning of waste from the list of combustion activities;
• implementing Directive 2009/126/EC on Stage 2 Petrol Vapour Recovery during refuelling of motor vehicles at service stations.

Volatile organic compounds can cause a number of environmental and health problems and are emitted into the atmosphere at different stages during the storage and distribution of petrol.

Morpeth in Northumberland was flooded in 2008 after the River Wansbeck breached its banks and engulfed almost 1,000 properties. Plans were drawn up to protect the town from such floods, but were stopped by budget cuts announced by the Coalition Government as a result of their comprehensive spending review.

However, Morpeth now looks set to get approval from the Environment Agency next week for new flood defences that would protect the town from rising waters. These plans include building some freshwater reservoirs upstream and new flood walls in the town itself.

The Agency will be discussing the plans on 9 February.

"Together, the Environment Agency and Northumberland County Council aim to reduce the risk of flooding to more than 1,000 homes and businesses in the town" said Ian Hodge, regional flood and coastal risk manager. "The council will contribute up to £12m towards the scheme and a further £10.6m has been identified in Government funding, however this has to receive formal approval from the Environment Agency Board."

For more information, see the:

• Water Resources Act 1991.

As a result of the Government's Red Tape Challenge and Professor Löfstedt's independent review of health and safety legislation, a consultation has been announced.

The Proposals to revoke seven Statutory Instruments - CD238, set out the legislation identified by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as being redundant or overtaken by more up-to-date Regulations.

This consultation began on 23 January 2012 and ends on 12 March 2012.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued a warning about workplace injuries after the number of fatalities at work rose in Britain in 2010/2011.

In total, 171 people lost their lives at work last year and more than 24,700 workers suffered serious injuries. This is quite an increase from 2009/10, which saw 147 deaths. The current statistics show that on average, six in every million workers were killed between April 2010 and March 2011.

Construction was, in particular, one of the most dangerous industries with 50 deaths, whilst the agricultural sector saw 34 deaths and nine deaths occurring in the waste and recycling sector. The HSE explain that these three employment sectors account for over half of the workplace deaths in Britain in 2010/2011.

For further information on the statistics, go to http://cedr.ec/1w.

The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences (Amendment) Regulations SI 2012/199 have been published, which will amend the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) SI 1995/3163 with regard to the law around incapacitation.

Under the current Regulations, if someone at work has become incapacitated for more than three consecutive days because of an injury from an accident at work, the responsible person must send a report to the enforcing authority within 10 days of the accident.

However, from 6 April 2012 the number of days of incapacitation that will trigger a report changes from more than three days to more than seven. This means that the relevant person only has to report injuries that lead to a worker being incapacitated for more than seven consecutive days as a result of an injury or accident at work.

The deadline by which the over seven day injuries must be reported also increases from 10 days to 15 days from the accident. Those with responsibility under RIDDOR must still keep a record of all over three day injuries.

As a result of these changes, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published a revised:

• brief guide to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations;
• version of L73 - A guide to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995.

Harmondsworth barn in west London, a timber built grade I listed building, has been saved by the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England (English Heritage) from neglect and decay after they bought it for £20,000.

The barn, dubbed as the "cathedral of Middlesex" by the late poet laureate Sir John Betjeman due to its internal appearance resembling a cathedral, was built in 1426 by Winchester College from 13 large oak trusses resting on stone blocks holding up the roof. It was originally designed to hold grain, but has fallen into neglect since an off-shore company bought it in 2006 and seemed only to be interested in land values as opposed to historical and architectural significance.

Due to the neglect, English Heritage had to issue an urgent works' notice in 2009 in order to carry out emergency repairs to make the barn wind and water tight. They then purchased the barn, adding it to its impressive national heritage collection, which includes the likes of Hadrians Wall, Westminster Abbey and Stonehenge.

The day-to-day care of the barn, and the opening of the barn to the public, will now be handled by the Friends of the Great Barn at Harmondsworth campaign group, which has campaigned for 6 years to save it.

Simon Thurley, Chief Executive of English Heritage, said, "Harmondsworth Barn is one of the greatest medieval buildings in Britain, built by the same skilled carpenters who worked on our magnificent medieval cathedrals. It's rescue is at the heart of what English Heritage does - protecting this nation's architectural treasures and helping people discover our national story through them. We will complete the repair of this masterpiece and by working with local people, will open it to the public to enjoy."

For more information, see:

• Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990;
• Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Regulations SI 1990/1519.