Second proposed waste plant angers Chieveley

Already fighting off plans to build an incinerator in the village, residents have swamped West Berkshire Council with objection letters in response to an application for a waste crushing facility at Copyhold Farm Quarry, near Junction 13 of the M4, by Raymond Brown Minerals and Recycling.
The firm wishes to extend the site in order to convert its current temporary operation into a permanent material recycling facility capable of processing 50,000 tonnes of waste per year.
Under the proposals industrial and demolition skip waste, which could include concrete and rubble, would be crushed by heavy duty machines, and the recycling area would almost double in size to accommodate the associated buildings.
The site is five hectares and is directly adjacent to the 21 hectare Old Kiln Quarry - where Grundon is attempting to build a massive industrial energy from waste facility, a move which caused uproar right across West Berkshire.
If approved, the recycling crusher could see up to 100 extra vehicle movement a day as lorries and trucks trundle to and from the site.
No public consultation has taken place although nearly 100 formal letters of objection have been lodged by those angered by the plans, and Chieveley Parish Council.
The North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), and the Campaign to Protect Rural England Berkshire have also lodged serious concerns and called for refusal of the application in order to shield the AONB.
Residents are concerned the noise and dust from a permanent plant would irrevocably blight their lives and that acceptance of the plans would open the door for Grundon to build its controversial energy from waste facility “next door”.
Donnington resident Glenda Price said: “There appears to be an influx of industrial development planning applications in this area and the council need to take a firm stand to ensure that the beauty and nature of the AONB is protected and that planning creep does not occur. AONB’s have the same status as a National Park and should be treated and protected as such.”
A letter to the council from AONB spokesman Andrew Lord said the North Wessex Downs AONB was under “considerable pressure from development” and this proposal would result in an undesirable precedent to allow further development of this nature in the AONB.
Chieveley Parish Council said the proposals would represent a “significant intensification” of the existing facility in an area that has been harmed by the high level of quarrying that has taken place down the years.
A letter from the agent, Stephen Bowley Planning Consultancy argues that under the changes brought about by the Government’s controversial National Planning Policy Framework the plant would not break any planning laws and bring environmental benefits.
“The proposed development is for a relatively small-scale recycling facility to meet local needs and cannot be regarded as a major development,” he said.
“Therefore the ‘exceptional circumstances’ test does not apply.
“The only significant planning issue is the location in the AONB, but a very high proportion of the district council area lies within the AONB and some forms of development are necessary.”
A decision on the application is expected to be made by Wednesday, May 9.
Have your say on the development by emailing mark.taylor@newburynews.co.uk.