A COMMUNITY has voiced its opposition to a riverside scrap metal yard - claiming it is a noisy eyesore.Wheeler Scrap Metal Merchants and Processors has a depot on Brightlingsea wharf, where scrap metal is collected so it can be shipped to a recycling plant in southern Europe.

By Juliette Maxam

A COMMUNITY has voiced its opposition to a riverside scrap metal yard - claiming it is a noisy eyesore.

Wheeler Scrap Metal Merchants and Processors has a depot on Brightlingsea wharf, where scrap metal is collected so it can be shipped to a recycling plant in southern Europe.

The company has applied to the Environment Agency for either a waste management licence or an exemption certificate.

This week Brightlingsea Town Council will draw up its official view on the application to forward to the Environment Agency.

At the weekend the town council organised a meeting to gauge the views of townsfolk, which included presentations from the Environment Agency and Wheeler's.

Speaking after the meeting, town councillor Peter Patrick said: "Most questions and comments were quite hostile.

"People were against the operation. It's not liked and not wanted. It's considered to be an eyesore - the heap of scrap metal which Wheeler's were saying they were going to reduce. There was just a lot of hostility against it."

Mr Patrick said residents complained that operation on the wharf was noisy and sometimes continued through the night.

He added: "We listened to the various experts. We made a note of what was said. We will now have to make a formal response to the Environment Agency."

Yesterday John Carr, vice commodore of Colne Yacht Club, at Brightlingsea, said the club has officially lodged an objection to the Environment Agency.

He said rust and dust from the scrap yard is affecting both the club house and members' boats.

"A surveyor is looking at members' boats and lodging various complaints to the operators (Wheeler's).

"Rust has eaten the gel coat on the boats, the protective plastic coat which goes around yacht. The boats are all looking a bit sad."

Mr Carr added: "The yacht club also feel the sight of this amount of scrap near the yacht club is not aesthetically appealing to the eye. We've tried over the years to make sure the waterfront and The Hard looks pleasing."

No-one from Wheeler's or the Environment Agency was yesterday available to comment.

Last week was the 30th anniversary since Brightlingsea wharf was granted planning permission from the then newly formed Tendring District Council.

Since then it has seen much controversy including demonstrations from coal miners during the coal strikes and fury over live animal exports from the port.