Toxic waste fears over waste recycling site plan near Market Drayton
Controversial plans to transform a potato packing plant near Market Drayton into a 24/7 rubbish plant have been criticised by residents who fear toxic waste could cause health problems.
The scheme could see the former Greenvale AP site in Warrant Road, Stoke Heath, turned into a material recovery facility, dealing with more than 180,000 tonnes of rubbish per year.
The specialised plant would receive rubbish such as glass, garden waste, farm waste, clothes and asbestos and turn them into recyclable materials. The proposed development includes the construction of the recycling plant, erection of soundproof fencing and a nine-bay storage area.
The applicant, Market Drayton-based AR Richards, said the waste processed at the site would be primarily from agriculture, construction and domestic sources and all of the waste would be recycled, with none being sent to landfill.
But residents have raised their concerns over noise and environmental worries about the plans. Posting on the plans on Shropshire Council's website, Philip Hughes said: "I object to the plans because of the unknown toxic and hazardous substances which would be destroyed there.
"There is a housing estate, sports centre and prison nearby. This would be detrimental to their health and the environment.
"The local roads are not suitable to sustain the excess heavy traffic this site will attract and the excess noise from machinery is detrimental to the people living and visiting the area and the environment."
Anthony Darmanin, who lives close to the proposed site, posted: "We were on good terms with the previous occupiers who carried out a strict noise pollution policy but nevertheless were repeatedly awakened at night due to lorries parking along our property with engines running even though the facility was not used 24 hours a day as is now proposed.
"Having seen what waste materials will be handled in such proximity to our property is alarming to say the least and we reiterate what another resident has stated.
"We strongly object due to increase in noise pollution, volume of traffic, air pollution, rubbish and concerns about the removal of toxic substances such as asbestos will pollute the atmosphere and is hazardous to health."
The site was formerly a World War Two depot, as part of RAF Ternhill, and in recent years has been a potato packing plant owned and operated by Greenvale AP Ltd.
Greenvale AP closed its Shropshire operation in 2014, resulting in the loss of 190 jobs.
The business said that having the site was no longer sustainable.
The site was purchased by AR Richards in October 2014 and currently the company just uses the offices on site. The company said the site is needed in order to divert waste from landfill and to be able to recover waste from planned construction within the local area.
They say the plan would employ 55 staff within the first two years, rising to 70 after six years.
In a planning application it states: "Greenvale AP Ltd, the previous owner of the site, operated 24 hours a day, seven days per week at the site.
"They achieved numerous environmental accreditations and as such the site has extensive pollution prevention and control measures in place, which will benefit future operations.
"An odour management plan has been developed in order to minimise odour release at the site. Also a dust and particulates procedure has been developed in order to reduce the possibility of dust and bio aerosols being released at the site."
