Planners admit they didn't consult

PLANNING chiefs at Warrington have admitted they did not carry out public consultation on proposals for a waste transfer facility handling up to 80,000 tonnes of household waste a year.
They have told the borough council’s development committee they did not consider the scheme warranted wide scale public consultation because of its scale and location.
But one member of the public has objected – and a local councillor has also expressed concern and the committee will consider the proposal next Wednesday (November 5).
The proposed temporary waste transfer pad is required to speed up the borough’s household waste collection service. It would be located on the Arpley Landfill site at Sankey Bridges where the waste is already delivered.
Council refuse wagons would off-load waste onto the pad and then on-site vehicles will take it to the tip face.
The one objector says there was no public consultation, asks how recycled materials will be removed from the site and asks what benefits there will be to residents.
The local councillor expresses concern over dust and smells and the impact of traffic during the construction period.
Planning officers say they considered the scale and location of the development did not warrant wide scale public consultation.
The wastes would only be from Warrington households, which are already delivered to the site, so there would be no increase in traffic. No recycling would take place.
A spokesman said: “The facility is solely for Warrington Borough Council operational requirements to provide a more efficient collection and disposal service, reduce turn round times and minimise damaged to collection vehicles.”
The facility will consist of a hardstanding with side netting to form a partially enclosed deposit and loading area.
The operation will be regulated by the Environment Agency to minimise the potential for environmental impact.