webpicA WOOD shredding business could be closed down if recommendations to approve controversial plans are overturned.
Dean Willshee had already started using a former timber yard, in Wetmore Road, Burton, as a waste wood recycling centre but was told to submit a planning application for its retention by Staffordshire County Council.
Members of the authority’s planning committee will meet on March 7 to decide the outcome which has more than 15 objections citing noise impact as the main issue, but will be told that the site is in the right place and would increase the ability to recycle.
The recycling facility would recyle 95 per cent of wood waste.
The applicant says that the development would enable wood wastes to be reused as animal bedding or in energy recovery (bio-mass plant) reducing reliance on fossil fuels, and would reduce carbon emissions through energy production.
The proposals include provisions for skip storage, concrete standing areas for storage of imported waste wood, relocation of a steel framed building, use of an existing building in for storage of baled recycled waste, the construction of a three-metre high concrete wall – which the applicant says will provide a noise barrier, and weighbridge and offices.
The site will be used for the receipt, storage and processing of 32,000 tonnes of waste wood a year arising largely from Burton.
Burton Parish Council objects over noise and the impact upon local residents, as well additional traffic and the potential for fires.
Notification letters were sent out to neighbouring businesses and homes. 18 individual representations have been received (four letters support the proposals) while 14 are objection letters also concerned over noise and traffic as well as impact on air quality from dust and a decrease on property values.
County Councillor Ron Clarke, local member for Burton town has made representations, objecting over noise, dust vibration and odours that have been experienced from site activities.
