Telford recycling plant poised to reopen despite concerns
A recycling plant in Telford is poised to reopen after the Environment Agency granted a permit to new operators despite residents' concerns over traffic and smells.
The former Greenway Waste Recycling site , in Waterloo Road, Ketley, closed after the business went into liquidation last year.
It has been at the centre of a campaign led by residents over plans to expand the operations at the premises.
Now Nottinghamshire-based Johnson Aggregates and Recycling Limited has been granted a licence to take it over with conditions.
The Environment Agency's decision report states: "We have decided to grant the permit for Johnsons Aggregates and Recycling Ltd.
"We consider in reaching that decision we have taken into account all relevant considerations and legal requirements and that the permit will ensure that the appropriate level of environmental protection is provided."
It further states: "We have assessed the noise risk assessment that including noise from the on site traffic and pollution control measures described in the application and we are satisfied that the control measures are BAT (best available techniques) for this installation and the operations are unlikely to cause significant pollution.
"A noise management will be implemented on site - the permit will ensure compliance with this plan as agreed."
The report also states that traffic congestion was not an environmental permit consideration and that the site and protection had been assessed.
Residents of Lawley, Overdale and Ketley held a protest march in 2016 against plans by Greenway to expand the operation. But the business closed in January 2017.
Telford & Wrekin Council has informed the agency that it has received more than 150 objections from residents over a planning application submitted for the site by Johnsons in 2017. In addition enforcement action had been taken against a previous operator and concerns over the use of HGVs and an increase in the number of them.
Amendments
Johnsons wants to extend working hours from 7am-7pm to 6am-7pm, which would allow 10 pre-loaded HGVs to leave the site to take recycled products to development sites where they are required for 7am starts.
In total, there would be 50 HGV movements in and out of the site each day.
It also wants to make some amendments to the layout of the site to make it easier for HGVs to get around.
This would include the demolition of a large building workshop from the site to make it easier for lorries to manoeuvre inside the site.
The company says once that is fully operational it hopes to be managing around 100,000 tonnes per year of construction and demolition wastes and 450,000 tonnes of incinerator bottom ash across its two sites.
The report states that Johnsons must clean up the premises on moving in.
