18 JULY 2007 NORTH Yorkshire County Council's proposals to site a household waste recycling centre on Penny Pot Lane has received a resounding 'no' vote at Harrogate Borough Council's planning committee held Tuesday, 17 July.  Of the fifteen members present, 14 voted against the application with one abstention.

 

Under planning rules, the borough council is one of the county council's major stakeholder consultees on the proposals but the county council will make the eventual decision.

 

Mike Gardner, Leader of Harrogate Borough Council, will be urging the county council to take on board the reasons for its refusal and will be asking it to think again.  He said: "We desperately need a household tip in the north of Harrogate town but this is just the wrong place to have it.  It is too far out of town with a five mile round trip from Jennyfields the nearest neighbourhood.

 

"Residents are getting frustrated at the delays.  We need a site much nearer to the town and the county council previously favoured such a site.

 

"The site now proposed is a greenfield site in an open countryside location.  As such, it is contrary to planning guidance and particularly the regional spacial strategy and the county's own Waste Local Plan.  Essentially, this facility is intended to serve the built-up area of Harrogate and on this basis a large 'urban' development in open countryside is not appropriate. 

 

"It is clear that the county council is trying principally to serve the western and northern parts of the town in order to relieve pressure on the Stonefall facility.  That is to be commended but I am afraid to say that they must find a better location.  The national planning policy states that developments of this nature will only be permitted if there is a local need that cannot be met elsewhere.  The supporting information in the planning application gives no detailed information as to why this site is considered to be suitable in spite of there being other locations which have not been explored in detail.  There was no discussion with our own planners about this site, which I find rather disturbing.

 

"We are also surprised that they are proposing this site as it is a clear departure from the North Yorkshire Waste Local Plan which was adopted as recently as 2006."

 

Since the council prepared its report the MoD has raised objections because of concerns that the heavy traffic flow would impact on the operations of the Army Foundation College.  The Police Architectural Officer has also raised objections over personal safety if the site were to be approved and The Land Drainage Authority has objected on the technical suitability of the site.  The Borough Council has also received fifty-six letters of objection since the report was printed with just one in support.

 

The reasons for refusing the application are as follows:

 

 

Potentially, the Secretary of State could call in the application for her own determination if the county council give themselves permission as it is outside the Local Development Plan.