PLANNING chiefs at Warrington have unanimously rejected a new application to extend the life of the controversial Arpley Landfill site – which should have closed last October.
But with an appeal against an earlier application due to be heard next month – and the possibility of another appeal against the new refusal – the long-running story is not yet over.
The new application was for a five year extension of the tip’s life – meaning tipping of waste would have continued until October 2018, with a further year for restoration work.
The earlier application was for a 12-year extension and it is this proposal that is due to be heard at a public inquiry next month.
More than 6,000 people have signed a petition opposing continued tipping and there have been numerous objections from parish councils, organisations and the three main political parties.
The new application was opposed by seven parish councils, the local ward councillors and by 53 individuals and organisations. A protest petition was signed by 61 people.
Warrington’s planning officers said the application should be refused because the landfill site is inappropriate development in the Green Belt for which no overriding long term need has been demonstrated, nor any other very special circumstances to override the harm to the Green Belt.
They say the proposals are contrary to the adopted Warrington Unitary Development Plan and the emerging Warrington Local Plan Core Strategy.
Heavy lorry movement generated by the development would have a detrimental on the lives of nearby residents and pedestrians and also more than 300 residents of the Saxon Park housing development who bought their homes in the expectation that tipping would stop in October last year.
Tip operators FCC Environment – who were not represented at the hearing – say the scheme is needed to help meet the essential short term municipal waste management requirements of the Merseyside and Halton areas.
They also claim it will not be possible to restore the site to an acceptable landform without the need for significant further importation of material.
The site has been in operation since 1988.
PLANNING chiefs at Warrington have unanimously rejected a new
application to extend the life of the controversial Arpley Landfill site
– which should have closed last October.
Arpley Landfill site plan rejected
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
