Waste station is given go-ahead (From Evesham Journal)

Waste station is given go-ahead

11:00am Thursday 1st November 2012 in News

A NEW waste transfer station is being created on a former wartime airfield, despite concerns over traffic.

A business has secured permission to relocate to the former Throckmorton Airfield, near Pershore.

SLC Enterprises, a skip hire firm currently based in Bromyard Road, Cotheridge, near Worcester, will move to the site and expand by sorting waste.

The move will create five jobs, and was backed despite a fierce debate over whether the land was the best place for the business.

Wychavon District Council and Bishampton and Throckmorton Parish Council had objected to it due to fears over traffic.

At the start of the Worcestershire County Council planning committee meeting Councillor Liz Tucker, who was against it, said: “I’d like the committee to refuse this.

“We’ve had several other planning applications for this area, and the cottages opposite are directly affected by the number of lorries coming in and out.

“You can’t guarantee there will not be a change of ownership (of the business) in the future.”

But many members of the committee said the relocation was a welcome step.

Coun Derek Prodger said: “We went to the airfield to look ourselves and this is a very direct location where we’ll have the opportunity to get some more employment.

“In these difficult times this should not be overlooked.

“It is not a lot of jobs, but it should not be refused.”

Coun Emma Moffett countered by saying: “I don’t think this is the appropriate place for it.

“There are other areas with better infrastructure and road access, so it should be refused.”

It was approved by the committee by seven votes to three, with councillors Emma Moffett, Sue Askin and Anne Hingley all voting against.

The existing buildings on the land have been used over the last few years for offices, laboratories, workshops, storage and car parking.

The larger hangars are still in use by commercial firms, including Droitwich Glass Fibre and defence industry contractor General Dynamics.

SLC Enterprises will build a new steel-framed building for the waste transfer station, which will send 80 per cent of the collected rubbish away for recycling.

About 10 to 15 skip lorries will be accessing it per day, but it will be closed on Sundays and from 1pm on Saturdays.