Brandesburton asphalt plant refused
Plans for the plant were put on hold by the committee in June
Last updated 25th Aug 2022
Councillors have blocked plans for an asphalt plant near a Holderness village amid fears odours and dust could damage local tourism and farming.
East Riding Council’s Planning Committee voted nine to two to refuse Newlay Asphalt Ltd’s plans for the plant, near Brandesburton, following 476 objections.
Jamie Brown, of Newlay Asphalt, told councillors the application had been reworked since its last hearing, with more screening now included but maintained the plant would not harm the area.
But objectors including two East Riding councillors said it was unsuited to the countryside location from where it could undermine tourism, affect farming and expose locals to dust and fumes.
Plans for the plant were put on hold by the committee in June and councillors since visited another in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, ahead of the meeting last week.
The company’s plans stated the plant could produce up to 100 tonnes of material an hour but councillors heard its size made reaching the maximum unlikely.
It would have opened from 5am to 3pm, Monday to Friday and until 10am on Saturdays, be 500m from the nearerst homes.
It would have seen a total of 50 delivery trips to and from it, 30 from 15 HGVs and 20 from 10 smaller lorries.
The committee heard 5m-deep screening had been added on the northern, eastern and southern boundaries of the plant, proposed between Bridlington Road and Catfoss Lane.
Councillors heard asphalt plants in Hull and Fridaythorpe, near Pocklington, were much larger and the proposed one did not use the same production methods as US ones objectors referred to.
But objector Adrian Olsen said they should listen to the hundreds of locals who were worried about the effects of the plant, including the village doctor on health grounds.
Mr Olsen said: “This in an unnecessary and wholly inappropriate development for this area.
“Some of the chemicals used to produce asphalt can react in the air to create smog, farmland surrounds the site and produces crops for human consumption, including peas.
“If you were faced with the decision to spend your recreational time in a toxic cloud, would you do that?”
Cllr Jane Evison, whose East Wolds and Coastal Ward covers the site, said the six industrial buildings on the nearby Catfoss Industrial Estate were nothing like the proposed plant.
The councillor, also the East Riding’s economy and tourism portfolio holder, said: “This industrial plant will be very visible and create a large number of vehicle movements.
“A lot of work has been put into this area to make it into a tourist destination and there’s a question mark over its safety.
“Normally I’d be very supportive of new investment into areas but not if it’s to the detriment of existing businesses and the environment.”
Mr Brown said the plant would operate to strict legal standards controlling noise, odour and other emissions if it were approved.
The applicant said: “We’re investing in warm mixing methods to reduce emissions and environment permits require us to follow strict rules.
“In the revised plans we’ve also included landscaping features which could be bunded to 2 to 3m, which would also allow for biodiversity improvements.
“It would employ 12 staff and have a positive benefit on the East Riding’s economy.”