Blow to objectors in Shipley waste site row (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Environmental chief warns council cannot revoke licence for Associated Waste Management
8:30am Tuesday 24th January 2012 in Shipley
By Jo Winrow, City Hall Reporter
CONTROVERSIAL: AWM’s site in Canal Road, Frizinghall
Environmental bosses at Bradford Council have outlined the reasons why campaigners’ demands over a controversial waste site in Shipley cannot be met.
More than 500 people signed a petition against the Associated Waste Management site in Canal Road when it applied for planning permission to enclose the recycling centre in an effort to prevent odours emanating from the site.
They called for the processing of municipal waste through a Council contract to be stopped, for the site’s environmental permit to be withdrawn and for plans for the new hall to be turned down.
But permission was granted by Shipley Area Planning Panel in September, as the enclosure of the waste transfer hall would minimise odour, noise and dust from the site. It involved an extension to the waste transfer hall, air filtration, sound proofing, and an increase in the hours lorries are able to visit the site.
The Council’s strategic director for environment and sport, Ian Bairstow, said in a report to councillors: “The Council could not revoke AWM’s existing and long-standing planning approval for use of the facility to treat waste unless it was to fail to meet relevant planning conditions. In such cases action would in the first instance be to ensure compliance rather than revocation of the approval.”
The Council awarded a contract to AWM in October 2010 to treat some municipal waste. This runs until 2015, with a possible extension to 2017.
AWM invested £2.6 million in the site in 2008 to allow municipal waste to be recycled there.
It is also used by neighbouring authorities and private businesses.
Comments(2)
StoptheStink.AWM
says...
3:09pm Thu 26 Jan 12
AWM ask for planning permission; local residents object. AWM get planning permission.
AWM spreads litter all over Canal Road and local area; local residents object. Bradford Council do nothing.
Large flocks of birds hover over the site and large rats are seen in the area. Residents complain; council and Environmental Health do nothing.
AWM causes a constant fug of rotting rubbish to hang over area; local residents complain. Council, councillors, Environmental Health, and Marsha Singh MP do nothing.
AWM ask for extended opening hours and to build a structure which 'might' stop ‘some’ smell; local residents object. AWM gets what it wants.
Local residents complain that it's impossible for council to impartially grant planning permission as it's they who will benefit. Council ignores objections; AWM gets what it wants.
Local residents invited to meeting with Council, AWM, Environment Agency to discuss proposals; 'impartial' chair talks about how great proposals are. Local residents' concerns are ignored - AWM does what it wants.
Local residents complain of ill health, inability to use outdoor facilities or open windows, being forced to tape up ventilation in houses due to smell, and one is told by her doctor that she should move away from AWM because it is causing ill health in the family. Environmental Health, councillors, council and AWM, all present at the meeting, do nothing. AWM carry on.
Local council workers made nauseous by smell whilst working on near-by council land and refuse to stay. Children at nursery in same area unable to play outside because of the smell. No-one does anything; AWM carry on.
Local residents keep up complaints to Environment Agency, council, councillors, MP, etc. and are passed from pillar to post, making any record keeping of complaints impossible. Many give up complaining due to this. AWM carry on.
Complaints rise to such a proportion that local councillors and MP stop returning calls. Local residents are disenfranchised and receive no help from elected officials; AWM does what it wants.
Residents complain that their 500+ signature petition has been ignored; Ian Bairstow, above, passes the buck, blaming someone else and saying there’s nothing the council can do. AWM get what they want.
AWM do what they want and don’t give a **** who it affects or how. Council lets them; councillors let them; MP lets them; Ian Bairstow tells us there’s nothing he will do.
Thanks!
Patrick Bateman says...
1:11pm Tue 24 Jan 12