People have a chance to respond to a consultation being carried out by the Environment Agency after it received an environmental permit application for the new tip at Locksbrook Road.
An artist’s impression of how the recycling centre will look | Image © B&NES Council
Last month, Bath & North East Somerset Council’s planning committee approved the controversial plans for a new household waste and recycling centre, despite 189 objections.
The council’s current recycling centre at Midland Road will be closing as planning permission has been secured for 176 homes on the site.
The land at Locksbrook Road currently comprises the council’s street cleansing depot and an adjoining car park used by the local VW garage.
The council has maintained that Locksbrook Road was chosen only after more than 50 other sites had been considered.
Last week, we reported that Councillor Tim Ball, the council’s cabinet member for neighbourhood services, and Councillor Matt McCabe, the cabinet member for built environment, housing and sustainable development, have been asked to jointly sign off the funding for the relocation scheme, which is more than £10 million.
Objectors have cited concerns about the site at Locksbrook, including flood risk, reduced recycling services, accessibility due to a gantry system, and the impact on the local business and residential community, including environmental health, traffic safety and congestion issues.
A total of 19 Bath businesses have publicly opposed the scheme, including Bath Spa University which has a campus in Locksbrook Road.
In the permit consultation, the Environment Agency says it can take account of:
- Relevant environmental regulatory requirements and technical standards.
- Information on local population and sensitive sites.
- Comments on whether the right process is being used for the activity, for example whether the technology is the right one.
- The shape and use of the land around the site in terms of its potential impact, whether that impact is acceptable and what pollution control or abatement may be required.
- The impact of noise and odour from traffic on site.
- Permit conditions by providing information it has not been made aware of in the application, or by correcting incorrect information in the application, such as monitoring and techniques to control pollution.
The consultation – https://tinyurl.com/3sk34cet – closes on 22nd May.
