Woolas compiles tip site concern

AN OLDHAM MP has sent a letter to the Health and Safety Executive in a last ditch bid to highlight road safety problems at a proposed landfill site.

Phil Woolas, MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, has written on behalf of worried residents living near Birks Quarry on the A62 Huddersfield Road.

Mr Woolas says Oldham Council has already sent a strongly worded objection to the Environment Agency concerning access to the controversial site on the Lees-Austerlands border where up to 540,000 tonnes of waste would be tipped, should a permit be granted.

He added: “Despite these very serious objections, the Environment Agency states it cannot consider the road safety issues of vehicles entering the site as there is planning permission dating back to 1994 and they can only deal with emissions from the site.

“Planning permission was granted by the Planning Inspectorate following four public inquiries and a judicial review.

“The council had opposed the application on every occasion, with one of the main grounds of objection being road safety.

“It has taken 15 years for a licence to tip application to come forward. As you will appreciate, health and safety and environmental legislation has changed and been strengthened since 1994.

“Also the maximum weight of HGVs has increased from 38 to 44 tonnes over this period.”

In a series of questions to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Mr Woolas asked if Oldham Council had asked their advice or consulted with them about the permit proposal. He also questioned whether the HSE could issue a Prohibition, Stop or Enforcement Notice to prevent dangerous manoeuvres of HGVs on the busy A62.

The Environment Agency has indicated its wish to determine the licence application by April 13.

Mr Woolas added: “My and my constituents’ serious concerns and frustration are that all the key stakeholders involved in this potentially dangerous situation agree road safety is a very serious and potentially life threatening outcome of granting a permit to the tip licence.

“However, no-one seems to have the authority to prevent this from happening.

“My constituents and I would ask you determine, as a matter of urgency, whether you have the powers under health and safety legislation to prevent this potentially dangerous road safety situation.”