Victory claimed over extra site conditions

Extra conditions attached to a planning application for a controversial waste disposal site in Staffordshire have been hailed as a victory for local residents' interests.

Cannock Chase Council has backed the Biffa scheme on green belt land at the Poplars landfill site which would see thousand of tons of food waste processed each year. The application will now go to Staffordshire County Council's planning committee, the deciding local authority, which will consider adding the requested conditions if it grants permission.

Cannock Chase Council's planning control committee asked if Biffa would considers relocation of the plant further in to the site to reduce the visual impact on nearby homes; that 80 per cent of all food waste coming to the plant to be from the local area and that county council members undertake a fact finding site visit to a similar site at Ludlow before any final decision is taken.

These were added in addition to the suggestions by planning officers that permission should be subject to an overall time limit of 15 years for the development.

Also consultation with the local authority and a wish that the green belt land it is built on is restored within one year of the end of its use was called for.

Cannock Chase councillor Graham Burnett said it was vital that the environment of those who lived closest to the facility was also protected.

Councillor Burnett said: "We are told that nationally by 2016 the UK will be facing a grave energy shortage. By our decision today we must resist the inevitable outcome of bleeding our national wealth by the import of fuel.

"We must seize the opportunity to act locally. In that way we have the opportunity to respect the wishes of the local community and engage all in establishing a centre of energy and recycling excellence that will influence events as opposed to having events forced upon us."