Calderdale Council has approved an application by Calder Valley Skip Hire Ltd for an Environmental Permit to run a small waste incinerator plant at Belmont Industrial Estate in Sowerby Bridge.
When determining the environmental permit, consideration had to be given to a number of factors, most importantly the protection of the environment and human health, in line with Government and European legislation.
Other specific issues were considered, including the large number of representations made on a wide range of issues during the three consultation periods.
In approving the application, it was acknowledged that this, and previous applications, have generated significant interest in the community, with a number of concerns being raised about the potential impact of a small waste incinerator plant at the Belmont site.
However, the basis for the determination for this application had to be confined to the objective technical and legal considerations identified within the Environmental Permitting Regulations, but all community concerns were fully acknowledged within this framework.
Therefore, the decision includes a number of conditions to ensure that the plant will not have any detrimental effect on local residents, their amenity, or the wider environment.
The Council will implement a monitoring and compliance plan, which focuses on four key elements:
- Physical site inspection
- Scrutiny of the required monitoring data
- Continue air quality monitoring in the area
- The involvement of the local community to ensure concerns/issues are addressed.
The plan will be used to ensure that any future operations at the site are robustly regulated and that any issues can be dealt with quickly and so can maintain the confidence of the local community.
Andrew Pitts, Assistant Director for Neighbourhoods at Calderdale Council said:
“I have granted permission for an Environmental Permit in accordance with the Environmental Permitting Regulations of 2016, using the powers delegated to me under the Council’s constitution.”
Cllr Jane Scullion, Leader of Calderdale Council said:
“We understand the strong local feeling around this permit application, and I know that this decision will be disappointing for the community.
“It has been made very clear that there must be absolute compliance with the conditions of the permit, and this will be robustly monitored by the Council through a planned programme of inspections as well as continued air quality monitoring in the local area.”
For more information search for ‘Calder Valley Skip Hire(external link)’ at www.calderdale.gov.uk(external link).