Blunt warning for councillors over Arpley landfill decision

MEMBERS of Warrington Borough Council’s development management committee have been given a blunt warning of the likely consequences if they refuse to accept a deal that would keep the Arpley landfill site operating until October 2018
A report to be considered by the committee on Thursday flags up the possibility of costs being awarded against the council for “unreasonable behaviour.”
If councillors decide not to accept the deal, officers recommend that members of the committee give evidence at the inquiry, due to be held in February, and “prepare their own proofs of evidence.”
Tip operators FCC Environment currently intend to appeal against the council’s decision to refuse permission for a five-year extension of the site’s operational life.
But they have put forward a revised proposal that would result in an earlier closure of the site, with significantly less material being tipped.
They say they are confident the Planning Inspectorate would accept the revised scheme which would result in landfill operations ending on or before October 31, 2017, with final restoration of the site being completed within 12 months of that.
A plan to keep the site operational for another 12 years was originally put forward by FCC. But this was thrown out by the Secretary of State earlier in the year, after a lengthy inquiry.
However, officers now say there have been significant changes to the evidence used to support members’ decision to refuse planning consent for the five-year extension.
They now have to accept a need for landfilling until October 31, 2007.
They can no longer use air quality as a reason for refusing planning consent.
In addition, although the extra landfilling would result in continuing harm to the living conditions of nearby residents, when all matters are weighed in the balance, such harm would not be sufficient to override the need to carry on landfilling until 2017
The committee will be asked to delegate authority to officers to negotiate enforceable conditions with the applicant to secure and end to tipping by October 2017, with restoration completed within another 12 months.
Officers point out that residents would not be bound by any decision the council makes. They would still be able to convey their views to the inspector at the February inquiry.
Picture: Residents, with Warrington South MP David Mowat, at an earlier Arpley protest