WAVERLEY VOICES CONCERNS OVER WASTE SITE PROPOSALS
Press Release, 5 June 2006 - Reproduced in full (our italics)
Waverley Borough Council has voiced its concerns about how Surrey County Council’s proposals for the future management of the county’s waste may affect local residents. Waverley has responded to the county council’s draft Surrey Waste Plan, which details where in the county waste facilities could be developed and reviews the location of landfill sites. Surrey County Council’s proposals include the location of a waste treatment works at Runfold Antiques/former Green’s Stoneyard or at the Petworth Road Community Amenity Site in Witley, and the creation of a new landfill site at Ewhurst Brickworks.
Councillor Victor Scrivens, Waverley’s portfolio holder for the environment welcomes the opportunity that the council has had to provide its views on the plan, he says: “Like Surrey County Council, Waverley is committed to reducing, reusing and recycling waste and through the introduction of alternate weekly collections of refuse, we have been striving to reduce the amount of waste needing to go to waste treatment works and landfill sites. We support the development of a waste plan for the county which aims to tackle the extremely important issue of how waste should be dealt with in the future, but not to the detriment of our local residents.”
Councillor Patrick Haveron, Waverley’s portfolio holder for planning and major projects, continues: “Of the 13 sites considered by Surrey as having potential for development into new waste facilities, three are in Waverley. “Waverley is opposed to the identification of Runfold and Witley as locations for a waste treatment works largely because of their proximity to local housing, for example, Runfold has houses located on three sides of the proposed site. They are also not suitable options for this kind of development because the impact of the increase in traffic would have a harmful affect on the local amenity of residents living close to the access routes.“It is not a case of ‘not in my back yard’ as we do recognise and believe in the importance of developing waste facilities across Surrey. However, we strongly feel that Runfold and Witley would not be viable sites for a waste treatment works and that Ewhurst Brickworks would not be appropriate for a landfill site.“The proposed sites are also located within the Green Belt and a development of this nature would detract from the openness of the surrounding area, which we believe should be safeguarded from any significant level of development. “Waverley is also concerned that Surrey would consider locating a landfill site at Ewhurst Brickworks, which is within the Smokejack Clay Pit Sites of Special Scientific Interest. This is a significant geological site for fossils and is a valued part of the borough’s natural heritage. In addition, the road network around the Brickworks is too narrow and would be inadequate to carry the additional traffic that would be generated by such a development.“Although no firm decisions have yet been taken by Surrey County Council, I hope that they take our residents’ and the council’s concerns seriously when considering which options they wish to take forward in their final plan.”
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