The eagerly awaited new asphalt plant at Blackwater Quarry was officially opened today (Friday) by the Island’s MP, Andrew Turner.
The £3.5million state-of-the-art, low emissions plant will produce quality, high performance products and innovative long term sustainable solutions of the Island’s public and private highways network for at least the next 25 years. The plant, which started operations back in May, has already produced 30,000 tons of asphalt.
Not only will the asphalt produced from this plant service the needs of the PFI contract, but it will also supply asphalt for a variety of exciting projects across the Island and has secured the future of the site and jobs for employees at St George’s Down.
With permission granted to produce 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, the new plant has doubled the hourly capacity of the old plant and is now able to produce 160 tons an hour and can be up and running within just 20 minutes.
Wight Building Materials, a joint venture between Aggregate Industries and Eurovia, will now look to boost production to catch up on the first year delays to the surfacing works on the PFI contract and the deliveries to other existing Island customers.
Also within the site, there is now a recycling facility which will allow Wight Building Materials to maximise the use of planings and therefore minimise the use of virgin aggregates within the asphalt and reduce imports onto the Island from the mainland.
Philippe Frenay, Wight Building Materials Board Member said:
“This plant will play an important party in the local economy, employing 40 people on site and proviiding plenty of opportunities down the supply chain”.
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Guests were invited to tour the plant today including Isle of Wight Council leader Ian Stephens, Cllr Jon Gilbey and Cllr Jonathon Bacon.
