Woolas concern over Birks lorry dangers

AN MP has raised fresh concerns in his fight to prevent a tipping permit being issued at a quarry.

Phil Woolas, MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, says the amount of waste lorries can carry could have a significant bearing on road safety at Birks Quarry on the A62 Huddersfield Road.

In a letter to environment minister Jane Kennedy, he pointed out that in 1994, when planning permission was granted, the maximum HGV load was 38 tons. Over 15 years this has increased to 44 tons.

He says: “HGVs travelling downhill to this site laden with 44 tons constitute an increased risk to other road users and pedestrians as they approach the semi-concealed entrance to this old quarry on a bend.

“I, and my constituents, contend the danger of a very serious accident if this licence were to be granted are considerably higher than in 1994, when HGVs carried less weight and the volume of traffic was less.

“The changes in the regulations regarding the tonnage HGVs can carry, and the increase in traffic, are material considerations that need to be taken into account when the environment agency considers the tipping permit for the quarry.”

Mr Woolas points out that, when the planning inspector granted planning permission for the site, it was recognised this was a “marginal” decision on grounds of traffic safety.

And he cites concerns of a strongly-worded letter of objection to the tipping permit from Oldham MBC.

“The local authority has raised a number of important and significant issues that are a serious cause for concern,” he says.

“This proposed landfill is in a residential area approached from a steep entrance flanked by residential properties on the steepest part of the busy A62 near a bend.

“The local authority’s considered opinion is the entrance to this site will constitute ‘an unacceptable additional risk to road users in this locality’.”

Mr Woolas, who has sent a copy of his letter to the environment agency and Greater Manchester Police traffic division, urges the minister and departments to ‘use their best endeavours’ to refuse the permit.

“Granting this licence permit will seriously endanger the safety of road users, pedestrians and property at this old quarry entrance,” he adds.

Councillor Barbara Beeley, chairman of recently-formed Birks Quarry Action Group, said: “We have raised the question of the increase tonnage with the authorities.

“We are meeting OMBC officials to review the whole situation very soon.”

If a tipping permit were granted, Royton-based Opengoal Limited could tip up to 95,000 tonnes of inert waste a year at the quarry.