Controversial plans for a new council recycling centre at Locksbrook Road in Bath are being recommended for approval.
An artist’s impression of how the recycling centre would look | Image © B&NES Council
The site is lined up to replace the recycling centre at Midland Road, where there is planning approval for 176 new affordable and market homes.
Bath & North East Somerset Council has said the Locksbrook Road site was chosen after more than 50 others within and around the city had been considered, but there have been 189 objections.
The site currently comprises the council’s street cleansing depot and a car park used by the nearby VW garage. The proposals involve a change of use and operational development of the site whilst retaining the street cleansing operation.
The Liberal Democrat-controlled council made manifesto commitments to improve recycling rates, prioritise the climate emergency and provide a like-for-like replacement for the site at Midland Road.
But concerns have been raised which include increased traffic congestion, noise, accessibility, site safety, the impact on jobs, growth and the local economy, flooding and environmental health.
The case planning officer says the proposed recycling centre is unlikely to have any significant impact on local roads and access and parking arrangements are acceptable; neither is it considered that the plans will lead to unacceptable noise for local residents, or air quality.
Odour will be “negligible” beyond the site boundary, the environmental monitoring officer is satisfied with the gull management strategy, and the plans are said to be policy-compliant in terms of flooding and drainage.
A biodiversity gain and habitat management plan will be secured by condition.
Rather than the decision being delegated to a council planning officer, Liberal Democrat ward councillors Samantha Kelly and Michelle O’Doherty (Newbridge) and Paul Roper and George Tomlin (Kingsmead) asked that the planning committee considers the proposals.
Planning committee chair Councillor Ian Halsall (Liberal Democrat, Westmoreland) and vice chair Councillor Lucy Hodge (Liberal Democrat, Lansdown) have agreed.
The Bath Echo reported last autumn that the council was warned it would face a legal challenge if the plans were approved. Andy Ridings, of Waste Recycling @ Bath Ltd at Odd Down, said the council’s cabinet had unanimously agreed three years before that his facility was the only suitable replacement for Midland Road centre.
The Stop the Locksbrook Tip residents’ group has welcomed the decision to call in the application for debate but said it was “deeply disappointed” that the case officer has recommended the application for approval.
“Decisions like these always rest on narrow, technical grounds and ignore the bigger picture: increased flood risk, rising emissions, the use of a gantry system with increased risks for aged and disabled residents, and a dramatic reduction in recycling provision.
“Ultimately, the real problem with these plans is political and beyond the technical review of the case officer: the Lib Dems have gone for a cheap solution and B&NES taxpayers will pay the price, as too will all local businesses that united together to publicly condemn the plans as a threat to the viability of their operations.”
The campaign group said that the new National Flood Risk Assessment, which shows that far more of this already flood-prone site is now classified as medium and high risk, has been ignored.
Protestors outside the proposed recycling site on Locksbrook Road
It added: “The officer’s report references a site selection process, but where is it? Sadly, B&NES has refused to release this document despite multiple Freedom of Information requests.
“Council officers have repeatedly promised to share it but never have In its response to a recent FoI request, B&NES admitted that the last site selection process actually took place in 2021.
“And we all know the result of this process, as B&NES helpfully told us: ‘Previous option assessments and sequential testing of sites only point to a single location suitable for the permanent relocation of a full replacement for the Midland Road Household recycling centre at Odd Down.’
“So why is B&NES recommending Locksbrook? What changed? And why is the council so desperate to keep this information secret?
“B&NES has repeatedly promised residents a ‘like-for-like’ replacement for Midland Road, but the proposed plans deliver nothing of the sort. The new site will only accept nine categories of waste, down from 31 at Midland Road.
“This means residents can no longer recycle batteries, paint, textiles, cooking oil, light bulbs, furniture, electrical goods, and more.
“As kerbside collections charge for many of these categories of goods, or fail to collect them when left out, residents will be forced to drive miles out of Bath to Pixash Lane (at Keynsham) to do their civic duty, adding to congestion, pollution, and carbon emissions.
“This council declared a climate emergency and yet it is deliberately pursuing a plan that increases emissions. It says one thing and does another.
“So far, nearly £500,000 of public money has been spent on this disastrous project. And with a total budget of £840,000, that’s nearly a million pounds of taxpayer money wasted on a site that fails on flood-risk grounds, reduces recycling provision instead of improving it, and increases emissions and congestion in the middle of a climate emergency.
“How much more will be wasted before B&NES admits it has got this wrong? If the planning committee approves these plans, the next step is court action. Residents and business have already publicly committed to pursuing judicial review and council defending this legal action will add to the total of public funds being wasted on this project.
“The Lib Dems really have to take responsibility and do a complete rethink on this recycling centre. This isn’t just bad planning. It’s actively harmful to the local economy.
“Nineteen local businesses, including Bath Spa University and Horstman Group, have publicly opposed the plans. These businesses contribute hundreds of millions of pounds to Bath’s economy and support thousands of local jobs.
“They say that the proposed tip will reduce access, increase congestion, and remove vital parking, making it harder for businesses to operate.
“This directly contradicts B&NES’s own planning policies, which earmark Locksbrook as a hub for productive enterprise and creative industry.
“Even the council’s own economic strategy says this site should be supporting businesses, not driving them away.
“This is a reckless, hypocritical, and economically damaging proposal that ignores flood risk, environmental impact, and the needs of local residents and businesses.
“The planning committee now has the chance to look at the facts afresh, listen to the evidence, and reject this indefensible plan. We urge them to do the right thing.”
The planning committee next meets on Wednesday 9th April.
As the planning application is being made by Bath & North East Somerset Council, a spokesperson for the local authority declined to comment on the recommendation for approval.
