Fears over work on proposed waste plant site (From Echo)
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Fears over work on proposed waste plant site
2:20pm Thursday 17th January 2013 in News By Jon Austin
CAMPAIGNERS fear work to develop a controversial recycling depot is already underway before planning permission is approved.
Residents and politicians are concerned about the level of activity taking place on the land off Terminus Drive, Pitsea, including fencing off of the site and adding a demountable office.
Heard Environmental, based on Basildon’s Burnt Mills Industrial estate, has submitted a planning application for a waste transfer station to deal with 50,000 tonnes of recycling a year on the land.
However, it has yet to get the green light from county councillors with a decision not due until February.
Officers from County Hall planning department visited yesterday following a complaint.
The firm, which recycles demolition and skip waste, maintains it has not carried out any work yet which requires permisison.
Residents hope plans will not be approved amid complaints that Pitsea has had its fair share of waste sites.
Pitsea tip, a major landfill site for the region, will remain open until at least 2015, when a new large-scale rubbish treatment plant and recycling centre is set to open in Courtauld Road.
Mike Hodges, 70, from Pitsea Mount Community Association, said: “There is a lot of hardtsanding down there to cover the ground, a wood crusher to make it into pulp for chip board and it has all been fenced off, while a public footpath at the side is being cleared. I can’t see why they are going to that expense when there is no decision.”
Sandra Hillier, county councillor for Pitsea, will be on the development committee which makes the decision.
She said: “They have been working down there for some time and I have asked officers to go do and see what is going on. It is my understanding the committee will be in February and I have asked if a stop notice preventing any more development can be served.”
She said she had to keep an open mind as she was on the committee, but added: “I am yet to be convinced at the moment.”
The site was bought by Dean Buffoni, director of Bedrock Concrete, last year for £150,000.
Mark Woodger, planning agent for Heard Environmental, said: “The site has been fenced bit off with some surfacng, but no major building work. There is an office on the site to deter trasspassers, but it can be moved any time.”
He added it was a local business looking to expand, which would retain jobs and could create more and that the work so far was at the firm’s own risk before planning was approved.
Comments are closed on this article.
Comments (16)
3:37pm Thu 17 Jan 13
emcee says...
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Unlike some third world countries, we are not yet at the point of "jobs at any cost" (although some may argue otherwise). However, this is the stance many developers are now taking in order to get planning permission.
Now, I am not against anything that will recycle waste but, then again, I do not live near this proposed plant.
However, anything that will have a negative impact on the neighbouring community should never be given planning permission. I am not talking a few NIMBYs who may be unhappy but an entire community. Whether this recycling plant will have that sort of impact I do not know but no planning permission should be granted based purely on the basis of job creation speculation. How about Mark Woodger let the community in on what the other benefits for the plant would be by being situated where it is (apart fron the obvious environmental recycling spin and the fact that the company running it will make an awful lot of money). What will the community, immediately surrounding the plant, gain from it? I suspect nothing.
4:20pm Thu 17 Jan 13
whataday says...
4:57pm Thu 17 Jan 13
Eric Whim says...
7:15pm Thu 17 Jan 13
Devils Advocate says...
Why bother? save the money to further improve Wickford memorial park, or find another field in Billericay to get blessed by Her Majesty in perpetuum.
7:26pm Thu 17 Jan 13
Marie b says...
Oh sorry I forget what a vibrant wealthy jobs in the plenty place Pitsea is!....but what do you care Emcee you're probably retired or on benefits anyway!
12:04am Fri 18 Jan 13
emcee says...
Try again.
9:50am Fri 18 Jan 13
InTheKnowOk says...
11:23am Fri 18 Jan 13
Marie b says...
As to previous comments as to Dale farm lot & stories you're dead right 'In the know ok'.....if the local NIMBYS get there way with objecting to waste company setting up recycling site we'll end up with the Dale farm lot on the site....they tried before as anyone local knows & SHOULD remember, I know what I'd prefer to see happen to the site as to my neighbours & friends.....and thanks to the ECHO story above the travellers now know how much to buy the land for!!..Well done ECHO & local Councillors (Cllr Sandra Hilier & Keith Bobbin) for moaning !, you people really don't think things out do you before you get on phone moaning & finger pointing at places you don't even live near!...do you have that much time on your hands??....If travellers ended up on site if waste firm pulled out you'be be kicking yourselves then wouldn't you...& one would imagine you would NOT be very well thought of or popular then woudl you!!!!
1:00pm Fri 18 Jan 13
Tom from Southend says...
6:15pm Fri 18 Jan 13
Marie b says...
Your comments are deserving of the word pathetic!
You obviously have not got a clue what your posting comments about have you, see here's the thing you & it seem the 'Nimbys' don't get or realize, the company there aren't actually doing anything illegal or wrong by 'planning rules' as you state....you said it yourself, yes you are naive & your post clearly shows that.
10:27am Mon 21 Jan 13
Tom from Southend says...
1:32pm Mon 21 Jan 13
Devils Advocate says...
You make much of the Acronym "Nimbys" but I wonder if you actually know that as a fact about the people opposed to the plant. I am totally against this kind of plant that is going to be built here or anywhere else, but it will be built here whether I or anyone else likes it, for that is how democracy works in this country now.
However, you are attempting to convince people that NIMBY's are what anyone who opposes the plant are, so perhaps you could offer two things to this discussion.
1. Where do you live in relation to the plant?
2. Have you a vested interest in its installation and, if so, if you live a safe distance from it, would you consider having it built within, say, one mile from your door?
7:04pm Mon 21 Jan 13
Marie b says...
And to answer question 1: I live in Chestnut Road, Pitsea so I am close by so I know what I'm talking about & it does effect me, as previously stated I'd rather anything than the travellers who nearly got on this site & ruined I & my neighbours lives!
And as to question 2. My 22 year old Nephew & 2 of his friends work for company and they have done for a few years now.
I'm just glad as my Brother is that these lads have got regular work, there's not much else going on & if it doesn't effect me where i live I don't see why the 2 x elderly people in Brackendale Avenue are moaning, I chose to live here, if I could afford to move to somewhere less Industrial & quieter I would believe me, as someone else posted on first story 'its hardly Kew Gardens is it'...hate to admit it but its true!...if it was not a suitable location don't you think Crossrail / Network rail would not have had the site reserved for waste transfer purposes for last 12 years until they sold it in 2011.
9:29pm Mon 21 Jan 13
Devils Advocate says...
Apologies to Marie b. I got the wrong rubbish, I did not read the article properly, sorry if I upset you, I have no problem with waste transfer stations, I helped set one up in Canning town, and can not see anything wrong with them.
I just do not think democracy was used when deciding the Burnt Mills Incinerator site, nothing else.
7:53pm Tue 22 Jan 13
Marie b says...
8:04pm Tue 22 Jan 13
Devils Advocate says...