PLANS for a controversial Waste Transfer Station on Winwick Road, Warrington, have been thrown out, on the grounds it would have an adverse impact on the quality of life of local residents.
Even though officers, who were recommending the plan should be approved, said any environmental impact in relation to traffic or air pollution would be “negligible,” members decided any increase would be “too much” on one of the most heavily polluted roads in the borough.
The council was seeking planning permission for the Waste Transfer Station to save revenue as they currently operate a more costly system, transporting household waste to a site in Widnes.
Although members of the planning committee had visited a Waste Transfer Station at Lancaster, they said it was in a more rural setting and could not be used as a comparison.
Opposing the application local Cllr Mike Hannon said: “From day one I have made it known that I am in support of a Waste Transfer Station – but not in this location!
“The A49 Winwick Road is already one of the busiest in the north west and there is no direct access for HGVs accessing or leaving the site.
“I strongly believe this has not been properly thought through and will create traffic and envionmental hazards.
“I believe the council is putting efficiency savings against environmental impact.”
Speaking on behalf of local residents Susan Emson said after carrying out improvements in the area, including building Orford Jubilee Hub, the council would be taking a “backward step” if they approved this application.
Bewsey and Dallam ward councillors Steve Wright and Sarah Hall, also spoke out against the application, saiying it would have an environmental impact on local residents living in the area, increasing traffic and affecting air quality
After the meeting Cllr Morgan Tarr, who helped secure a near 1000 petition signatures from residents all over the town, added: “I am absolutely delighted with the decision to refuse the application and I am very pleased that common sense has prevailed. I would like to thank all the local residents who have been so supportive of the campaign. It was clear right from the beginning that this was a completely unsuitable location and it is disappointing that resources have been wasted on this project. Given the huge problems with the proposal it is astonishing that it was allowed to even get to this stage.
“The council need to go back to the drawing board and find a location in the town which is actually suitable for a development of this type. Trying to locate it right next to a large residential area on an already congested road was not going to be an acceptable solution, and I hope that in future the council spends more time listening to the concerns of local residents rather than trying to force ahead proposals in the face of large community opposition.”
Meanwhile Warrington North MP Helen Jones said: “I am extremely pleased that this proposal has been refused. It was very clear that the site on the A49 was unsuitable for a great number of reasons, including the impact on traffic and serious environmental concerns. ”
Earlier, in support of the application a spokesperson for the council said: “We acknowledge the concerns, but believe issues at the waste transfer station will be limited.
“Warrington’s site would be designed to meet the very latest standards in terms of mitigation for noise, odour and vermin control.
“It would be future proofed for the projected growth of the Borough.
“Currently, Warrington’s waste is transported to Widnes in each refuse collection vehicle on average twice per day, with each round trip taking approximately one hour to complete.
“Here it is bulked up into larger amounts before being removed for disposal elsewhere.
“The plan is to provide a site in the borough where waste can be deposited for a short time before it is transported for processing and disposal.”
“There will be an absolute maximum of 120 vehicles using the site each day – and some of these would already have been using that stretch of road so won’t be ‘extra’ traffic. Considering there are currently in excess of 33,000 vehicles travelling on that stretch of the A49 the impact of this will be negligible.”
But members of the planning committee voted to reject the application after hearing from officers that the authority would not appeal against the decision.
Cllr Hannon outside the entrance to the proposed waste transfer site
