Tip set to stay open

The household tip and recycling centre between Hawton and Cotham looks set to remain open for a further three years, despite objections from residents and Cotham Parish Council.

Nottinghamshire planning and licensing committee will on Tuesday discuss an application from its communities department to renew the temporary planning permission.

A report from the strategic director, Mr Mick Burrows, says the tip has been open for almost 30 years.

Permission was given to continue with the site in 1994 for two years, which has already been further extended four times.

Temporary

The local government ombudsman investigated complaints about the operation of the tip because it had continued to operate when a temporary consent ran out. He ruled that the council was guilty of maladministration.

Mr Burrows said they hoped to renew the temporary permission again to allow the tip to operate until November 2010.

He said they continued to seek a new site and needed three years to find a replacement, apply for planning permission and gain a waste management licence.

Cotham Parish Council thinks their village is seriously affected by its operation through fly tipping, dust and continual traffic.

They think that three years is too long to keep the tip open and say that it causes traffic congestion.

Balderton Parish Council says the tip is a valuable facility and is pleased it will continue for the next three years.

The county council’s minerals and waste policy team say that ideally a new site should be found as soon as possible but if the site was closed they are concerned that recycling rates would fall and there would be more flytipping.

Residents in Cotham say there has been enough time to move the operation to another site. One suggested that it should be moved to the highways depot on Kelham Road.

They have also complained about the smell, dust and dirt and traffic.

The county councillor for the area, Mrs Sue Saddington, said if the application was allowed the council should make every effort to find a new site as soon as possible.