ANGRY councillors at Warrington have given a waste disposal company just 12 months to complete tipping at a controversial landfill site.
Planning officers told the borough council’s development management committee there was “no alternative” to granting permission for an extra 18 months tipping at the site in Silver Lane, Risley – despite the fact the work should have been completed in October.
But councillors decided nearby residents, who have had to put up with noise, dust and smells from the tip for years, should not be expected to endure it any longer than necessary.
Tip operators Biffa Waste Services will, however, be allowed another year to restore the site.
Thirty residents opposed the company’s application for more time to complete tipping and there were also objections from Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council, Croft Parish Council and Birchwood Town Council.
Main grounds for objecting were a loss of amenity, noise, smells, traffic, etc.
The company blamed the recession, loss of waste contracts and increased recycling which had resulted in less waste materials being produced.
In a statement they said: “The economic climate and the operation of waste disposal in a commercial environment makes forecasting difficult.”
Planning officers said there was no alternative to granting an extension of time to complete waste disposal and restoration operations.
Existing slopes were 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.
