Planners agree: carry on tipping

THE operational life of the Risley Landfill site has been extended by three years.
Borough council planners have reluctantly agreed to allow tip operators Biffa Waste Services to have another two years tipping and a further year to complete restoration of the site.
It means the company will remain on site until October 2011.
Originally the tip should have been completed and restored by last October.
Of all the organisations originally opposed to extending the life of the tip and expanding it over adjoining farm land, only Birchwood Town Council and about 30 nearby residents maintained their opposition.
The borough council’s development control committee approved the scheme because to refuse it would have left the site unfinished.
Even the Risley Landfill Opposition Group “reluctantly accepted” that more time was needed to complete the job.
Issues such as noise, vermin, smells, etc will continue to be regulated by the Environment Agency.
A planning department spokesman said: “Regrettably, up to three years will be required before final restoration is achieved, but this is considered to be the most reasonable and environmentally acceptable solution.”
The committee also approved an application for permission to continue using a contaminated soil remediation facility on the site until 2011.
The facility is required to treat soil for final restoration of the tip site.