Planners to visit waste site

PLANNING bosses are to visit the site of a proposed waste transfer station for a second time before reaching a decision on whether it can go ahead.
Some members of Warrington’s development control committee felt the first visit to the site off the A49 Winwick Road had been inadequate for them to make a decision.
The plant would handle 15,000 tonnes of waste a year and councillors representing residents of the Bewsey and Whitecross and Orford areas have lodged objections.
The site forms part of the site of a proposed medical waste facility, controversially granted permission on appeal in 2002, but which was never built because the land is owned by the borough council who would not allow it to go ahead.
Planning consent for that scheme has now expired and the new application is a totally separate proposal.
It proposes an enclosed transfer building, offices, storage bays for recycled wastes and outside storage of skips, wagons, etc. An existing building would be used for sorting dry non-recyclable and recyclable materials.
The facility would have a throughput of 15,000 tonnes of locally collected green and garden wastes, metals, bricks and hardcore. Access would be from Winwick Road.
Planning officers say the site is derelict and contaminated and the development will enable it to be returned to a positive use, which will improve its physical condition.
Predicted traffic movements – 54 on weekdays and 30 on Saturdays – would have only a negligible impact on the A49, they say.
But local councillors are worried about traffic problems at the access to the site on the busy road.