Planning Application details, including all documents and plans, can
be found via the following link - Planning Application RBC/20CM002
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Sally Panayi, Senior Planner, presented the report to the Committee confirming the location and site area. It was noted that the site was in the Green Belt.
It was confirmed that permission was sought for the variation of condition 53 of planning permission R16/890805 which was granted in 1991. As a result of a reduction in landfill rates due to increased recycling following changes to Government policy, there remains a 4 million cubic metre void space on site. The application is seeking to extend the life of the landfill for an additional 10 years to comply with the landfill restoration and profiling agreed by the original planning permission in 1991. It was proposed that Condition 3 (relating to a Landscape and Environmental Management Plan) be redrafted and that Conditions 15 and 16 (relating to restoration and aftercare be removed to avoid duplication and for technical clarification.
The following points were highlighted to the Committee –
· Odour; Environmental Health (EA) investigated complaints relating to odour from the site over the summer of 2020 but they were found to be unsubstantiated. Control of odours from the site is managed under the EA Permit.
· Dust & Asbestos; EA advised that no additional conditions were needed, and that sufficient controls and adequate procedures are already in place.
· Litter; complaints have been received regarding litter from the site. It was confirmed that severe storms early in 2020 caused damage to the litter fence which resulted in the release of litter from the site. It was confirmed that following this, the site had arranged for litter pickers to collect the litter. It was noted that when bad weather, particularly high winds, were forecast, the site shuts down operations completely. The EA confirmed that it had no further recommendations.
· HGV movements; concerns were raised in relation to vehicle movement to and from the site. The Committee noted that there is a S106 agreement in place to control the movement of vehicles. Complaints were also raised about parking of vehicles on the highway before the site opens. The applicant has written to operators to ask them not to do this, but this issue is not always within the applicant’s control.
· Flooding/Surface Water; following concerns in relation to flooding and surface water on site, it was confirmed that a Surface Water Management Plan was in place as part of the permit from the EA. Following a question from Councillor Caroline Phillips, it was confirmed that some of the ditches that flood are part of the public highway and out of the control of the applicant. The applicant fulfils their duty in relation to the ditches and water ways on their land.
Public Speaker
Mr. Dale Aston from Lawford Lodge Farm spoke in objection to the application. Concerns were raised by Mr. Aston in relation to the systematic checks carried out by the Environment Agency and that they did not appear to be completed following complaints or concerns from local residents. Mr. Aston stated that he was disappointed that there were ... view the full minutes text for item 3