'Final throw of the dice' over scheme near Goole to recycle waste from sewage plants

Plans to recycle 100,000 tonnes a year of waste at a redundant peatworks two miles from Swinefleet were dismissed on appeal earlier this year – but only on a narrow procedural matter.

Resubmitted proposals, which include treating bio-solids from sewage-treatment plants, have attracted more than 700 objections, as well as from three parish councils and North Lincolnshire Council.

The latest plans, due before East Riding councillors on Thursday, are recommended for deferral to allow the Secretary of State to consider the call-in request, confirm the council can deal with the application and securing an annual financial contribution towards highways maintenance by way of a legal agreement.

However, the plans would then be approved.

Brigg and Goole MP Andrew Percy said he had asked Mr Jenrick to consider a call-in in the hope that he would “give more credence to our genuine concerns more than the planning officers have or the inspector has”, but admitted it was a risky strategy.

He said the risk was that the Secretary of State "is going to have to be bound by exactly the same planning decision making as the council.

"Also call-in is only meant for very big nationally significant projects."

He added: "I wouldn't say I'm downhearted, but I am realistic - I threw that (asking for a call-in) into the mix a couple of weeks ago as I could see the way it was going."

Among the many objections people have raised are the “simply inadequate” roads leading to the proposed facility, yards from a wildlife site; concerns about “horrendous” smells and the route past the primary school in Swinefleet, which will be taken by up to 8,000 HGVs per year.

In his earlier decision dismissing Knottingley-based developer 4R’s appeal, planning inspector Graeme Robbie ruled that any impact of the type raised by residents would be “transient” as vehicles pass.

He also said in “an active rural setting the movement of large vehicles with sometimes malodorous materials is not without precedent.”