THERE is no alternative to granting permission for the controversial 18 month extension plan for the Risley Landfill site, according to Warrington planners.
As a result, they will be recommending borough planners to grant an application for the extra 18 months when it comes before the borough council’s development management committee next week.
Approval will mean the site, at Moss Side Farm, Silver Lane, Risley can be used for tipping until April 2012, with another year allowed for restoration of the site.
Nearly 30 objections have been received to the application by Biffa Waste Services but the Environment Agency has not objected.
In a report to be studied by the committee, officers say the main grounds of objection include a continuation of loss of amenity, noise, smells, traffic, etc.
It is understood why local residents are concerned because in 2008 the applicant was confident the site would be completed by 2010.
But input rates had declined because of increased recycling, the recession and the loss of waste contracts.
Wastes have been diverted to Risley from other facilities owned by the applicant but input rates have still declined.
The company has agreed to submit monthly input rates to the council but it is unrealistic for the council to be able to influence or control input rates with any precision.
“The economic climate and the operation of waste disposal in a commercial environment makes forecasting difficult.”
Planners say there is no alternative to granting an extension of time to complete waste disposal and restoration operations.
Existing slopes are too steep to permanently cap and restore and any re-grading work would result in removal of previously deposited waste with an impact on landfill gas management, increased smells and a need to remove waste from the site.
Any alternatives to extending the life of the tip would not be environmentally acceptable.
Objections have been received from Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council, Birchwood Town Council and Croft Parish Council.
1 Comment
thank you for an accurate report of the situation at risley. As a group of local residents we have worked hard to limit the impact the landfill has on our locality including a massive effort to prevent a further expansion in area.Whilst it is true to say that noise smells etc. are a nuisence the major local concern now is when is it going to end?
The site should have been completed in 2006, then 2008, then2010 and after this weeks decision by WBC tipping of waste will now end in October 2011 with a further year to restore the site. The good news is risley is nearly finished the bad news that warrington is surrounded by landfill sites and on our Risley experience they can all look forward to many years of delays, disturbance, prevarication and time delays.Sadly previous administrations have left warrington as the dustbin for Manchester and Merseyside and getting rid of that role and ensuring that these facilities are satisfactrilly completed is a tough and time consuming job!