Controversial new rubbish tip planned for Blandford
But Dorset's Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty say it's not the right place for a new Household Recycling Centre
A waste transfer station and new household recycling centre for the Blandford area is expected to be approved next week.
Dorset councillors will consider the final details of the project – almost a year after they were first submitted.
It has attracted a series of objections although it is claimed that changes to the plane will have overcome some of these.
The 2.7 hectare site, currently part of an arable farm, is south east of the Sunrise business park and north of the A350 Blandford bypass.
The site will be used to collect and transfer waste and recyclables and will have a covered waste transfer station with storage, a sprinkler tank and pump house, and a split-level household recycling centre with vehicle unloading bays and partially covered central yard, together with a dedicated ‘re-use centre’, weighbridge and associated landscaping.
Among the objectors is the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty team who do not believe the area is the right place for the facility but say they have worked to make it as least intrusive as possible.
Pimperne parish council lodged an objection in similar terms and is also unhappy about road access to and from the site, although Blandford Town Council is in support.
An initial objection from Wessex Water, which expressed concerns about potential pollution was withdrawn after the council provided further information.
Only a handful of public objections were received making similar comments about the AoNB, fears of pollution and smells, highway safety and the effect on wildlife.
The design is broadly based on the Bridport centre, widely seen as being successful.
The new Blandford area centre will replace the existing site on the Blandford Heights industrial estate which for some is difficult to use and can only accommodate 14 vehicles at the same time – with the gates having to close when containers need removing, causing congestion on the access road.
Papers with the application say the site will be “designed to bulk up separated waste recycling streams from Dorset Council’s household and commercial collection services and allow the public to bring and separate their own recyclables into clearly labelled containers.”
Initially work was expected to start last summer to be completed by winter 2022, but that timescale has now slipped by a year.
Full details of the application, from the initial public consultation, held more than a year ago, can be seen here.