Villagers fighting extended use of landfill site are set for defeat

Residents have become increasingly opposed to Gilberdyke Landfill site, in Leatherdog Lane, Newport, claiming that up to 100 lorries a day travel past their homes to and from the tip, and earlier this year police were called to move some of them on when they tried to block access to it.

Site operator City Plant is now seeking planning permission for extended use of the site until 2015, and to continue extracting clay from it for use in sealing it the following year when it is full.

The site can accommodate a further 104,000 tonnes of waste – some of it coming from Northumberland and Norfolk – and it is expected to be full within five years.

Both Gilberdyke and Newport parish councils are opposing the application, while 27 letters of objection and a petition signed by 11 people has been submitted to East Riding Council, where councillors will consider the matter on Thursday.

Some say the site, which has been used as a tip for 40 years, will represent an “unacceptable blight” on the otherwise flat landscape when full because of its height, while others complain about noise, unpleasant odours, and litter and debris escaping to become an eyesore in the neighbourhood.

Most, however, have complained about the volume of heavy lorries, particularly in the Thimblehall Lane area, which they claim are causing damage to roads, footpaths and properties.

Paul Robinson, East Riding Council member for Howdenshire, who will be speaking at the meeting on Thursday to voice residents’ concerns, said: “I’m not particularly happy with the application; I don’t think the conditions go far enough in any way, shape or form.

“I would like to see a restriction on the number of HGVs and I think that’s key. I think we have to go back to the original proposal that talks about vehicle movements in the region of 20 per day. I’ve heard there have been in excess of 100 per day, which is not acceptable.

“If the application is to be approved with suitable conditions to limit the vehicle movements and prevent the negative impact on residents I can go along with it. As it stands the conditions don’t do that.

“I would also like the company to set up a liaison group with residents and the parish council so there is a forum for the exchange of views and concerns.”

Coun Robinson said he also wanted to find out why the tip was being used to bury waste generated outside the county. He said: “Serious questions need to be asked about why waste from the North East and Norfolk is being brought to this tip.

“An HGV carrying 20 to 30 tonnes would cost £350 to bring down from the North East; that’s over £10 per tonne in additional transport costs. Why is that?

“These are questions that have not been answered and it’s very worrying.”

A report to the council’s planning committee recommends permission is granted, subject to the company contributing towards the maintenance of Thimblehall Lane.

Alan Menzies, the council’s director of planning and economic regeneration, said: “The approved scheme for this site is a good one designed to limit vehicle movements by using on-site clay.

“This application is simply to extend permission to allow a suitable period to finalise the restoration of the site, in particular to permit the relevant clay extraction.

“The applicant has agreed to contribute towards the maintenance of Thimblehall Lane as well as the imposition of an hour’s condition restricting the tipping activity that did not previously exist.

“Without this scheme, as approved, the completion of the tip cannot be achieved.”

No-one at City Plant was available for comment.