Waste decision may be disputed

Newark and Sherwood District Council may seek a judicial review if Nottinghamshire County Council’s decision to approve a controversial waste-transfer station in Newark stands.

The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Mr Eric Pickles, has asked to see the application but it has not been called in.

It was brought to his attention by the MP for Newark, Mr Patrick Mercer, who said there was disquiet surrounding it.

The county council planning committee voted unanimously to approve the application for the former Cleanaway site, Brunel Drive, despite widespread opposition.

Mr Pickles can call in the decision only on planning grounds, but the district council fears due-process may not have been followed.

At a meeting of the district council, Mr David Payne said he understood a complaint of maladministration had been made.

He was concerned by the suggestion that members of the planning committee had been under a whip, when a gentleman’s agreement existed on local authorities that planning committees were exempt from party political affiliations.

The local county councillor, Mr Vincent Dobson (Con) spoke against the application but was not a member of the committee.

Mr Payne said there needed to be transparency.

Mr Brendan Haigh said time was of the essence when it came to a judicial review, given there was only a three-month window to launch a challenge.