Following complaints and concerns from residents in Castletown who have reported cars, gardens and washing regularly being covered in fine wood particles and sticky residue with some describing the dust “raining down like snow.” The issue having been ongoing for a few years have been linked to a nearby wood shaving drying process, Following a social media group been set up and a growing number of residents raising issues Westmorland and Furness council issue an abatement notice and demand action to reduce emissions.
In response, A.W. Jenkinson Forest Products has applied for
a Certificate of Proposed Lawfulness to install dust abatement equipment at its
depot on Haweswater Road, The company plan to install two large air filter
units — known as ‘Modulair’ units — which will connect to the site’s existing
exhaust system.
The company has tried other measures to reduce the wood dust
emissions into the local community including two capture systems made of
scaffolding and netting currently in place.
The new system designed to fully contain and filter the hot
air used to dry wood shavings, preventing dust from escaping into the
surrounding area. The filtered dust, estimated at around 45kg per day, will be
collected in sealed trailers and reused for animal bedding.
The site has been in operation on the industrial estate for nearly 30 years and employs 15 production staff. The company describes the new system as a major investment, with an expected cost of around £500,000.
The consultation on the application is open until the 21st May 2025 and the application can be viewed and comments made via the Westmorland and Furness council planning portal at https://planningregister.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/Planning/Display/2025/0724/LDPR
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