Waste row rumbles on after appeal

Battlelines have been drawn with the announcement that a Royton-based company has appealed against the Environment Agency’s decision to turn down its application to tip waste at Birks Quarry.

In a statement, Oldham Councillor Mark Alcock said the council was preparing a dossier to present to an appeal hearing.

“When the appeal hearing comes we are determined to be armed with the necessary evidence to stop this application,” he said.

The council has opposed the proposal since the initial planning application was submitted in 1985.

Mr Alcock said: “I am disappointed that after such a long and exhaustive examination by the agency inspector, and the clear decision that was made, the applicants have seen fit to appeal.

“However, we fully expected Opengoal to appeal the decision, and our officers have been continuing to compile evidence in order to support our case.”

In January, 150 residents raised a battery of concerns about the quarry at a public meeting.

And Phil Woolas, MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, wrote to environment minister Jane Kennedy asking her to call in a permit application for review before a decision is made about the quarry at Huddersfield Road on the Austerlands-Lees border.

It follows his own objection to the proposal in a letter to the Environment Agency in which he claimed residents would face severe noise, dust and mud nuisance over a period of at least six years as 18, 000 lorries enter and leave the site.

Mr Woolas said today: “Nothing has changed to make me think that an appeal would be successful.”

Planning permission for Birks Quarry to be used as a tip was given on appeal 20 years ago following repeated refusal by Oldham Council.




After January’s public meeting, residents and councillors formed the Birks Quarry Action Group and launched a poster campaign to oppose tipping plans.



Rob Knotts, a member of the action group, said today: “The permit application was rejected by the E A on the grounds of mud and water deposits from landfill activities posing an unacceptable risk to road safety.

“It is sad that Opengoal seem to be ignoring road safety issues in their appeal against the EA’s logical and sensible decision.”