CONTROVERSIAL plans to use part of an old tram sheds in Bradford as a waste tyre disposal site have been submitted to Council planners for a third time.

Jacks Tyres has applied for retrospective permission to retain its operation in the former factory on Leeds Road, Thornbury, in which tonnes of tyres are baled and stored on the premises before being shipped abroad to India, where they are broken down to provide metal, rubber, and oil.

The business claims its plans have previously been met by “venomous objections” from the local community, and residents have labelled the re-submission of the proposal as “shocking.”

A huge fire swept through the yard in June 2015 forcing locals to flee their homes, and those against the industrial operation say they fear the blaze could be repeated.

However, developers say the fire was caused by tyres that had been illegally dumped on the site, which the applicant had already raised concerns over.

Jacks Tyres currently operate in conjunction with Zee Tyres, a tyre-fitting company which already has planning permission, to work together to dispose of waste tyres. The current working practices are said to have been in operation since March last year.

The tyres are sorted into bales stacked three-high, with each weighing around 2.25 tonnes. When the baled tyres are ready for collection, an articulated lorry removes the stock from the site, with three journeys made over every two-week period.

The plans were initially submitted and then withdrawn in May 2015, before being resubmitted and refused by Bradford Council that September.

The reasons for refusal were the proposal failing to improve the visual amenity of the area, highway access concerns, a fear of crime and an overall undermining of quality of life for residents, and adverse noise impacts.

A design statement by Fineline Architectural Design (FAD), the agent involved in the proposal, states that a 2.1m high palisade, labelled a “non-climbable barrier”, has now been erected at the compound to improve security, in response to concerns raised by West Yorkshire Police.

The statement reads: “Following the submission of the previous application it is likely that an arson attack on this site was no coincidence. At that point in time there were a lot of tyres dumped on site illegally. This stock was nothing to do with the applicant.

“Although Jacks Tyres and Zee Tyres want to work with the neighbourhood, after various discussions, and due to the, in some cases, venomous objections, it was considered that a public consultation day would not be a proactive procedure, and may cause hostility between some parties.

“Many of the objectors refer to the obvious risk of fire following the former arson attack. The site will be operated within stringent regulations that stipulate the maximum weight of tyres allowed on the site at any one time, a law that was certainly not satisfied at the time of the fire.

“The applicant cannot stress enough that the fire was devastating due to the level of unauthorised tyres dumped on this site, tyres nothing to do with this business. The tyre storage will be such that they will be kept safe and secure, and not readily open to arson attacks.

“If the planning department support this application we would hope that the neighbourhood would see the proposals in a more favourable light.”

The plans attracted almost 30 complaints from local residents when submitted in 2015, and Joolz Denby, who lives on the nearby Rushton Terrace, said it was “shocking” they were being considered again.

She said: “I and my neighbours who have properties directly next to the compound object in the strongest terms possible to increasing the volume of tyres dumped in this predominantly residential area, with safety risks to residents, noise, pollution, and a high risk of fire.

“A tyre fire has already occurred on this site with public warnings issued by both the police and fire department regarding any future increase in use.”

Rebecca Hindle, of Marton Court, Laisterdyke, said: “The socio-economic nature of the area has resulted in poor health in infants and adults alike, and the danger of tyres catching fire would only worsen health concerns.”

Bradford Council is set to decide on the plans by May 8.

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