Protest over Bridgnorth rubbish tip plans

More than 100 placard-waving protesters fighting controversial plans for a new rubbish tip in Bridgnorth demonstrated at the proposed site today ahead of a crunch planning meeting.

Homeowners and business people turned out for the protest in Faraday Drive to show opposition to plans to turn the site into a £2 million tip handling more than 35,000 tonnes of waste a year.

The protest was Shropshire councillors visited the site ahead of a meeting this afternoon to decide the fate of the application by Veolia Environmental Services.

Veolia wants to convert the former ITW Angleboard warehouse into the rubbish and recycling centre.

The council, which is being recommended to approve the plans, has received 267 letters of opposition to the proposals.

Protesters waving banners with messages such as "No Tip Here" and "90 metres from the houses" were waiting to meet councillors at the site in a bid to get their message across.

Darren Burns, spokesman for Faraday Drive Action Group, which organised today's protest, said: "I am very, very pleased with the turnout. We have business people, a lot of residents and one or two councillors as well. It shows that there is feeling right across the board against this facility."

He added: "We are all in support of recycling but just not at this site."

The tip would bring together the household recycling centre currently at Barnsley Lane and the rubbish collection vehicle depot and bulking-up centre at Stanley Lane.

But campaigners claim alternative sites at Worcester Road and Stanmore Industrial Park are better suited for the facility.