Council drop plans for Bacup 'waste unit' (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Council drop plans for Bacup 'waste unit'

9:20am Friday 3rd July 2009

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PLANS to open a waste depot site in Rossendale have been dropped after protests from hundreds of residents.

Rossendale Council said that it had listened to the public and decided not to submit a planning application to turn its garage in Henrietta Street, Bacup, into a waste transfer and storage unit.

Campaigners opposed to the plans welcomed the decision saying it was the “sensible thing” to do.

The council’s decision came after 150 residents attended a meeting at Bacup Royal Court Theatre on Tuesday night to protest against the plans.

Coun Peter Steen, environment portfolio holder for the council, said: “The consultation period was extended to enable all residents to “Have their say”.

“The council would like to thank all those people who have contributed and expressed their views.

“In particular, the council is grateful to those local residents who visited Stubbylee and established the facts in relation to how the process would work.

“The council has listened and considered all the comments made and has decided not to proceed with its application.”

John Murphy, who showed a film of another waste unit at the meeting, said he was delighted with the council’s change of heart.

His footage showed waste disposal vehicles dropping off tonnes of bottles, glass, plastics and gallons of dirty liquid and prompted residents to plead with with Coun Judith Driver, Coun Jimmy Eaton and Coun Graham Haworth to stand with them.

Mr Murphy said: “The fact is Bacup gets the short straw when it comes to development so it is important that we stick together.

“We have fought in numbers here and this is why the decision has been made to pull the plans.

“It is the sensible thing to do, because a waste depot site in the heart of our town could have been the final straw for many people.”

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