MORE than 100 angry protesters are planning a major demonstration at the start of the public inquiry into the controversial plan to extend the giant Risley landfill site, near Warrington.
Members of the Risley Landfill Opposition Group will demonstrate outside the Halliwell Jones Stadium where the hearing is due to start on Tuesday next week.
They will all be dressed in green and will carry banners proclaiming “Enough is Enough.”
The green attire will symbolise the threat posed to the prime agricultural green belt land.
Landfill giants Biffa has appealed against Warrington Borough Council refusal to grant permission to expand the tip and extend its life until 2010.
Under the current planning consent, tipping must stop later this year.
Graham Chisnall, chairman of the Risley Landfill Opposition Group said: “It’s great that so many local residents deeply opposed to any further developments of the Risley landfill site are prepared to turn out and show their opposition.
“We have all suffered the adverse effects of the site for some 29 years and we were promised that operations would cease in October 2008. The proposed extension represents a great injustice and we all must stand up and say that enough is enough.”
Since news of the appeal broke, the group has been working tirelessly to raise objections to the proposals, which has seen them gain support from 1,000 residents and members from Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council, as well as Birchwood Town Council.
Deputy Leader of the borough council, Keith Bland, said: “It is a credit to them the way they’ve conducted themselves over the last few months.”
The inquiry is expected to last until April
Biffa’s appeal hearing will take place at 10am on Tuesday, April 22 to Monday, April, 28 at The Halliwell Jones Stadium.
