OnTheWight has received information from several sources over the last week relating to Eurovia, the company behind the proposed asphalt plant application.
The suggestions about what was happening with the company – who are closely connected to Island Roads (the 25 year highways PFI contractor) – were wide and varied, so we put several of them to Eurovia for comment.
Withdrawal of planning application?
The first piece of information we received was that Eurovia were intending to withdraw their much-contested planning application for an asphalt plant at Medina Wharf.
A spokesperson for Eurovia told OnTheWight,
“Eurovia are still pursuing their application for an asphalt plant at Medina Wharf and are waiting for a date for the planning committee.”
We have been in touch with the Isle of Wight council to find out when the application will be heard by the committee (it’s not on today’s agenda), but have yet to hear back.
Now buying ‘materials’ from Bardon Vectis
We’d also heard from another source that Eurovia are negotiating a deal with Bardon Vectis to buy asphalt from their Blackwater plant.
The spokesperson for Eurovia didn’t specifically reply about ‘asphalt’, instead telling OnTheWight,
“We are buying materials for the Isle of Wight Highways PFI from Bardon Vectis and Aggregate Industries, the owner of Bardon Vectis, along with other material suppliers.
“It is still our intention to have a dedicated high performance asphalt plant on the Island supporting the Highways PFI.”
Bardon Vectis takeover?
Finally, we’d also heard that Eurovia were in talks to buy-out Bardon Vectis (who are owned by Aggregate Industries) and take over the plant at Blackwater.
A spokesperson for Eurovia didn’t deny that the company are in buy-out talks, but instead said,
“As above, we have had talks with Bardon Vectis, but in particular Aggregate Industries the owners of Bardon Vectis, to buy some materials for the Isle of Wight Highways PFI.
“Aggregate Industries and Eurovia have significant existing business and extensive trading relationships across the UK.”
Further clarification needed
We felt Eurovia’s replies to the second and third items were not clear enough, so have requested specific confirmation whether they are in talks about a Bardon Vectis buy-out and whether they are buying ‘asphalt’ from the Blackwater plant.
We’ll update once we hear back from them.
Update 31st July 12.05pm
A spokesperson from Eurovia’s communications department confirmed that Eurovia are purchasing asphalt from Bardon Vectis in Blackwater.
She went onto confirm, “I have not issued any statement regarding the purchase of Bardon Vectis.”
So we’ll have to wait for the official confirmation on that point.
Update 31st July 4.20pm:
A spokesperson for Eurovia told OnTheWight,
“I can confirm that Eurovia have no plans to buy-out Bardon Vectis or Aggregate Industries.”
Image: Jason Wodhead23 under CC BY 2.0
