Agenda item

The Area Lead East presented the report as detailed in the agenda which was to invite members of Area East Committee to provide a response to Somerset County Council regarding the application made to them for ‘the construction and operation of a waste transfer station (including retention of glass bays, garage/workshop, water tanks, weighbridge, parking and staff welfare facilities)” at the Dimmer landfill site.

The officer provided members with several updates that included:

·         A response from the SSDC Landscape Officer who felt that a condition should be added to mitigate the minor impact to the landscape;

·         The SSDC Ecologist  considered that there would be no adverse impact to the nearby Carymoor wildlife centre;

·         A letter regarding the lack of satisfactory road access;

·         A representation from the occupier of the mobile home on the site.

Ms V Nobles, Mr K Knight, Mr D Bryce, Mr A Gibbons, and Mr M Roberts all spoke in objection to the proposal to set up a permanent Waste Transfer Station at Dimmer in place of the temporary landfill site, mainly due to the adverse impact on the local highway, HGV’s entering and exiting from Dimmer, concern regarding the already narrow roads of Clanville and the proposed extended operating hours.

Ward Member Cllr Henry Hobhouse considered that SCC had broken promises about the closure of the site once landfill had ceased.  There was no economic justification for the proposal.

Ward Member Cllr Nick Weeks was concerned that if approved HGV’s would now be full whilst going in and out of the site.  Viridor should honour the agreement to close the existing site.

In response, members were advised that there would be some empty lorries exiting the site and the 1987 approval had been given for ‘Bad Neighbour Use’

During discussion varying views were expressed including:

·         The B3153 was now  a lot busier than it was when the approval was first given, it was far too narrow to accommodate large vehicles;

·         The local roads surrounding the site should either be changed to restrict the size of vehicles, or the business should be restricted and reclassified;

·         There should be no open ended use once the landfill permission ends in 2016;

·         SCC have strategic sites and non-strategic sites with differing levels of requirements this was a strategic site in the wrong location;

·         Do not agree with SCC highways statement and suggest that relevant SCC members visit the B3153 to see the issues for themselves;

·         Concerned about the cumulative highway impact other developments in the area would have on the local roads.

Members were unanimously in agreement to object to the applicationfor the following reasons:-

•           Site should close as per previous permissions/understandings. Temporary permission should be enforced;

•           Use by bigger lorries not appropriate;

•           Additional traffic cannot be accommodated by local road network;

•           Dimmer appeal established highways capacity issues;

•           Road not suitable for HGV movements on this scale;

•           Do not accept highways statement;

•           Cumulative highways impacts with other developments;

•           County members need to visit B3153 to appreciate situation;

•           This is a strategic facility on the wrong location.

The Area Lead East would circulate his response to Councillors in attendance at this meeting.

RESOLVED: That AEC Members requested the following comments to be included in the District Council’s consultation response to Somerset County Council:

·       The site should close as per previous permissions/understandings. Temporary permission should be enforced;

·         Use by bigger lorries not appropriate;

·         Additional traffic cannot be accommodated by the local road network;

·         The Dimmer appeal established highways capacity issues;

·         Roads not suitable for HGV movements on this scale;

·         Do not accept highways statement;

·         Cumulative highways impacts with other developments;

·         County members need to visit B3153 to appreciate situation;

•     This is a strategic facility on the wrong location.

(Voting: Unanimous in favour)