Worksop: Controversial waste station plans get the green light
The council’s waste planning committee met on this week and passed the proposal for the project to be built on the old Dukeries House site on Claylands Avenue, close to the A57.
The decision was a blow to campaigners who were opposed to both the waste transfer station and remain opposed to the plans for a waste incinerator to also be built in Worksop on the site of the old recycling centre on Sandy Lane.
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Hide AdWith the plans for the waste transfer system being passed, campaigners will now fear there is an increased possibility of the incinerator plans also getting the green light.
But they have vowed to remain defiant and fight on.
Under the proposals, the station will receive up to 65,000 tonnes of waste per year.
Green bin domestic waste will be bulked up to go to Sheffield for incineration, while blue bin paper, plastic and cardboard will go to Mansfield for sorting.
Waste will be delivered and tipped, usually by Bassetlaw Council waste disposal trucks and other skip companies, before the waste is bulked up onto larger vehicles for onward transportation.
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Hide AdThe plans before the committee estimated that between 14 and 24 bulker vehicles would leave the site on a typical day, which would all be directed to the A57.
Campaigners say this would mean more than 50 extra lorries a week coming into and out of the area.
The meeting was made aware of several objections to the proposal from Bassetlaw Council on several grounds, including the hours of operation being too long offering no respite to existing or future residents; the number of new jobs created (three) was less than other potential users of the site could bring to the local area; the increased amount of vehicle movement to and from the site and the lack of on-site parking and no clear information on how vermin would be controlled and contaminated waste dealt with.
Environmental impact concerns for nearby residents were also raised.
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Hide AdThe committee was also made aware of strong objections from both Shireoaks and Rhodesia parish councils, again based on noise, environmental impact and impact on the area for residents.
But the County Council planning officers said those had been raised with the applicant, such as impacts of noise, traffic and road junction design and had been addressed through negotiation and acceptable amendments to the proposals.
The proposal was passed and work is due to commence on the project within the next three years.