Plans for a new waste and recycling site near Beverley have been refused
It's after more than two thousand objections were received
Plans for a new waste and recycling site near Beverley have been blocked following thousands of objections, amid warnings that the decision would make managing rubbish harder.
East Riding Council wanted to build the new household waste and recycling tip on land off Ings Road, Molescroft, near the A164 Grange Way. Sarah Atkinson, the authority’s waste management lead, claimed that blocking the plans could lead to an increase in fly-tipping and pile pressure on existing tips, because the existing facility at Weel was unfit for purpose.
However, the council’s planning committee voted to turn down the plans after 2,682 objections were lodged. Opponents said building the facility would mean losing a local beauty spot.
One objector, Katy Rogers, said that the land was home to a beautiful natural space, which helps local residents including cancer patients. Denis Healy, the ward councillor, branded the proposals an eyesore.
Last March, the plans were put on hold to review the effects on local roads and other possible sites. Objectors said it would be close to homes, a pub and a nursery and would fuel traffic. However, officials said the site was only one that was suitable out of more than 30 they had looked at, while expanding the recycling site at Weel – which is prone to flooding – had already been ruled out.
Officials said a new, larger site was needed to cope with Beverley’s expanding population. The proposed tip would have processed up to 9,000 tonnes of waste a year and its location, around 200 metres up Ings Road, would have allowed more than 30 vehicles to queue outside.
Planning officers had recommended the proposals for approval, highways assessments had deemed it acceptable and a holding objection from Humberside Police was withdrawn ahead of the meeting yesterday (Thursday). However, objector Ms Rogers characterised the backlash against the plans as one of the largest seen for an application in the East Riding.
She said: “When these plans were first submitted they were received by residents with amazement, how ridiculous to concrete over the countryside for a tip. The plans show that this will be a site for industrial and commercial waste that just so happens to take household waste and recycling too.
“The proposed site is an absolutely beautiful part of the Yorkshire countryside that’s loved throughout the year. It provides access to the countryside, was a lifeline during lockdown and has recently assisted people who have been diagnosed with cancer. Losing it would have an impact on local mental health and wellbeing.
“There’s also serious road safety issues, the entrance and exit are fundamentally unsafe. Traffic regularly backs up on Grange Way.”
Ms Atkinson said the council was aware of the concerns, but the site was designed to be a modern facility replacing an outdated one. She said: “The Weel site is too small and it’s built on an old landfill site which leads to flooding and contamination.
“Problems there will ultimately mean the site has to close, which could result in more fly-tipping. Without a site in Beverley, other sites in the East Riding will be burdened with 30 per cent additional use and increased mileage will result in 1,000 tonnes of extra carbon pollution.
“Highway works for these plans have been found to be appropriate and the impact of the wider network has been deemed acceptable. There’s no other suitable brownfield or previous use sites that meet tests, this is the only one that meets policy.”
Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Healy said he was proud of all those who fought for the decision. The councillor said: “Today is a victory for residents and councillors over a council that was hell bent on putting an industrial scale eyesore in a green and pleasant land.”