Waste plan anger

PRIME spot . . . the two mills, to the left and right of the picture, off Gorse Street

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Locals kept in dark over 100,000-tonne tip scheme

RESIDENTS breathed a huge sigh of relief today after plans to build a controversial waste plant on their doorstep were killed off by council chiefs.

But there’s anger locals were kept in the dark over the scheme to burn around 100,000 tonnes of household rubbish at the Ram and Rugby mill site, off Gorse Street, Chadderton.

Householders were unaware of the proposals, near Kingfisher School, until Oldham Council declared it had rejected the idea, over fears it would impact on residents and cause traffic chaos.

Council chiefs were asked by the landowners to include it in consultation as part of the Greater Manchester Waste Joint Development Plan.

The plan is being prepared on behalf of the 10 Greater Manchester Authorities with the aim of identifying sites across the area that might be suitable for waste disposal.

Councillor Mark Alcock, Cabinet member for environment and infrastructure, said: “We have objected to this idea being included in this consultation and it has now been dropped.

“We don’t believe that this is the right site for a plant like this, being close to Kingfisher School and local housing and along with the considerable extra traffic that this development could cause. The council is acutely aware of the importance of identifying sites wherever possible. However, this site put forward by the landowners is simply not acceptable.

“At the same time as looking for suitable sites it is important that we continue to promote the widest possible range of recycling opportunities so that the bare minimum of waste has to be sent to such facilities in the first place.

“New facilities are needed but this is not in a place we consider to be either appropriate or acceptable for such a development.”

Chadderton South Labour councillor Dave Hibbert said: “I’m amazed they were even contemplating it without consulting with residents or local councillors. With bad access, traffic problems, local people being inconvenienced and near a school with vulnerable children too, it would have been totally inappropriate. I’m sure people will be relieved.

“It’s the course of action I would have pursued but I do wish before they made decisions they consulted local councillors.

There are too many things happening at the moment that councillors are not being informed of, let alone consulted about. This administration is supposed to pride itself on transparency and consultation.

“It would have been proper for them to let us know they were even considering these proposals, but they have kept it quiet until they have made a decision.”

The waste development plan has already sparked controversy after green belt land next to schools and houses off Coal Pit Lane, Limeside, was proposed for a new tip.

The extension of landfill at High Moor, Scouthead - notorious for noxious smells and disturbing residents - was also suggested but both plans were dismissed by the council after protests.

Councillor Hibbert has been told the latest proposal was a big site put forward as an alternative to these and had a good chance of progressing until council officers blocked it, saying it was too late to include it in the plan, there was insufficient information and it was near a school.

Oldham’s recycling rate has nearly doubled, from 15.5 per cent to 28.5 per cent, over the last four years.