Tip operators want two-and-a-half years more

TIP operators Biffa Waste Services are seeking planning consent for an extra two-and-a-half years to complete operations on the Risley landfill site, near Warrington.
Three applications are to come before the borough council’s development management committee next week which would effectively extend the life of the tip, off Silver Lane, Risley from October this year to March 2015.
The applications have triggered objections and expressions of alarm from nearby residents and from Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council, Croft Parish Council and Birchwood Parish Council.
In August last year, the committee received a similar application from Biffa – but insisted tip restoration must be completed by October 19 this year.
This followed a series of applications by the company, spanning several years, to gain more time to complete the landfill operation and restore the site.
There was also a major public inquiry at which Biffa sought to extend the life and size of the tip.
The outcome was that the company was refused permission to increase the size of the tip site but was given more time to complete their work.
Now Biffa are seeking permission to keep plant and machinery on the site until restoration work is finished, to continue using a site haul road and to put back the completion date until March 31, 2015.
Landfill operations finished in October last year and the site is now being restored.
But the company claims there is a shortage of restoration soils needed before trees can be planted and pasture areas seeded.
The two parish councils and Birchwood Town Council are all disappointed that restoration work will carry on for so long.
Four nearby residents have lodged strong objections.
There are fears the applicant may continue to “work the system” by appealing for many years to come to develop or enlarge the site.
They say the scheme is imposing the “maximum visual intrusion” on residents of Culcheth.
For years, residents have complained of noise, smells, pests and traffic caused by the landfill site.
Anger has repeatedly been expressed that planners have allowed the original completion date for tipping to be extended on several occasions.