North Yorkshire County Council claims new plan will 'safeguard residents'
It's claimed the joint 2015-2030 Minerals and Waste Plan would restricting industry to working within the framework of the blueprint
The leadership of a council which has repeatedly been accused of backing controversial proposals by big businesses against the wishes of residents has approved a new development plan, saying it will better protect residents from “inappropriate” developments.
A meeting of North Yorkshire County Council’s executive heard members claim its joint 2015-2030 Minerals and Waste Plan with City of York Council and the North York Moors National Park Authority would safeguard residents by restricting industry to working within the framework of the blueprint.
The document sets out new planning policies for minerals and waste developments, such as quarries and recycling plants, across all three areas which will guide decisions on planning applications up to the end of 2030.
It aims to deal with key questions about future development such as where should future minerals and waste development be directed, when should future development take place and what sort of development should take place and how should it be implemented.
Last month five parish councils launched a scathing attack over the county council’s 20-year record of allowing quarrying and waste processing on greenbelt land, alleging the authority had worked behind the scenes with developers to get their plans approved.
They also accused the Tory-run authority of flying in the face of Boris Johnson and Michael Gove’s policies, approving major developments on agricultural land despite a litany of significant environmental concerns and strong opposition from local residents.
They wrote: “Our understanding is that the county council have not refused one mineral and waste planning application in the Green Belt for over 20 years – they have received over 20 applications and approved every single one.”
Ahead of the plan’s expected adoption this week, the authority has faced further criticism, over the length of time it has taken to produce the document and that the plan leaves the door open for energy firms with shale gas licences covering areas of North Yorkshire to lodge fracking proposals.
The meeting heard it had taken about a decade to finalise the “extremely important” plan and that there had been “extensive consultation with communities..
Members said the plan had been scrutinised and found to be safe and would provide for a good balance between the wishes and needs of business and residents.
Executive member for access Councillor Don Mackenzie said: “This is a great day today because I believe the joint plan in front of us today is an excellent one. I believe it’s important for our residents, for those who care for our environment as we all do and in particular it’s important for business, jobs and the local economy.”
Councillor Janet Sanderson, the authority’s children’s services executive member, said many residents would not appreciate the significance of the plan until they encountered an application for an inappropriate development that threatens to despoil North Yorkshire’s much-loved countryside.
She highlighted how the county’s plan for minerals had been out of date since 2007 and the plan for waste since 2009, leaving the authority with very little protection against developers’ appeals to the Planning Inspectorate.
Coun Sanderson said: “We now just need to get off the bus, get it adopted and ensure it gives North Yorkshire residents the protection they deserve.”