Villagers are stepping up their fight against plans for a giant waste tip.

More than 60 Denholme residents converged on the Mech-anics Institute for a special public meeting. They were unanimous in opposing plans for the tip at Buck Park Quarry.

Humberside consortium Wastewise has applied to Bradford council for outline planning permission to turn the quarry into a landfill site with a capacity for 2.4 million cubic metres of household and industrial waste. The company reassured objectors at the meeting.

The main worries are the potential for nasty smells and insect infestations, and damage to the environment. There are also fears about the extra heavy-goods vehicles which would be using Whalley Lane and the A629 Halifax Road.

With a potential 100 lorries a day rumbling through already-congested Denholme, many claim traffic levels will cause damage to roadside properties and be a road safety hazard.

It was also revealed by a council official that waste produced in the Bradford district would not go necessarily to Buck Park, even if planning permission is granted. The council's current waste management contract still has two years to run and Wastewise would have to apply with other firms for the next contract.

Marianne Millward, from the council's minerals and waste planning team, told the forum planners have still to make a decision on whether to recommend approval or refusal of the plans. Elected councillors will make the final decision.

She added: "It is our attention to work with Wastewise if planning permission is granted." She also said officers at Bradford council would work in partnership with the Environment Agency to monitor the running of the tip. The Environment Agency - a government body with the power to close down badly run sites - will act as a watchdog if the tip gets the go-ahead.

Wastewise's Simon Jones said an operating license would only be granted if the company's plans came up to scratch. He added: "The site would be engineered above current engineering standards and the construction would be monitored by the Environment Agency. It is imperative we contain landfill gas on the site and we are sure the facilities would be more than sufficient."

Mr Jones said many of the problems experienced with landfill sites were down to poor management, and he stressed that Buck Park would be run professionally.

Town mayor Cllr Russell Driver said: "Contrary to what people think, the town council hasn't made a decision on what our comments are going to be. We are looking for the best possible answers and the best possible deal for Denholme."

The site at Whalley Lane - which covers approximately 16 hectares of land - is still a working quarry. Wastewise proposes to continue the extraction of sandstone until approximately 211,000 cubic metres has been removed, lowering the quarry bottom by eight metres. It is anticipated the development will take between nine and 11 years to complete, with landfill and quarrying taking place in tandem for seven years.

Planning officers say they have received 12 letters in opposition. Comments can be sent to: Marianne Millward, Minerals and Waste Planning team, 3rd Floor South, Jacobs Well, Bradford BD1 5RW.

It is anticipated the plans will come before Shipley area planning sub-committee in March.

A public meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 26, at 7pm in the Blue Room of the Mechanics Institute, organised by a new action group against the tip. All are welcome.

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