Arpley delay brings fresh hope for campaigners

SECRETARY of State for Communities and Local Government Eric Pickles has written to the operators of the giant Arpley landfill site at Warrington asking for more information before he decides on the fate of the site.
This means the decision on whether the life of the site can be extended until 2025 will be put back eight weeks until around October 23.
It also offers fresh hope for residents of the Sankey Bridges area who have campaigned vigorously against the extension of the landfill site’s life.
Warrington South MP David Mowat (pictured) has welcomed the news.
He says there have been significant developments since the operators’ appeal was heard which make a refusal more likely.
In his letter, Mr Pickles has asked the operators to comment on three developments.
1. A recent High Court case involving development on Green Belt land.
2. Warrington Borough Council’s Local Plan Core Strategy – adopted since the appeal was heard.
3. A letter from Mr Mowat.
Mr Mowat wrote to the Secretary of State in June to point out that keeping the site open was contrary to the Government’s landfill policy and that Halton Borough Council would not be using Arpley beyond the end of the year.
Mr Mowat said: “I am delighted that the Secretary of State has decided to act on the information which I brought to his attention.
“There have been some significant developments since the appeal was heard which I believe tip the balance decisively in favour of rejecting this application and they need to be taken into account.”
A major public inquiry was held earlier this year after Warrington Borough Council refused an application by the tip operators to extend the Arpley’s life by some 12 years.
The result was originally expected early in September