Agenda item

A report was presented on an application for the variation of condition 3 of permission 06/10/0169 to vary the hours of operation of the shredder to 07.30 to 17.30 Monday to Friday (except bank holidays), 7.30 to 13.00 on Saturdays with no metal processing operations to be undertaken by the shredder recycling plant at any time on Sundays and public holidays at Recycling Lives, Longridge Road, Preston.

The report included the views of Preston City Council, the County Council's Developer Support (Highways), the Environment Agency and details of ten letters of representation received.

The Development Management Officer presented a PowerPoint presentation which included an aerial photograph of the site and the nearest residential properties. The committee was also shown photographs of the site, the shredder and the access road.

It was reported orally that the applicant had requested that condition 2 be amended as follows by the inclusion of the words in bold.

2. No metal recycling operations including the operation of the fragmentising plant shall take place outside the hours of:-

07.30 to 17.00 hours Mondays to Fridays (except public holidays)

08.30 to 13.00 hours on Saturdays

No metal recycling operations or operation of the fragmentising plant shall take place at any time on Sundays or Public holidays.

The requirements of this condition shall not apply to the depollution of end of life vehicles, to metal recycling operations taking place within the building, the importation of metal waste from household waste disposal centres or the carrying out of essential repairs to plant and machinery used on the site.

Reason: To safeguard the amenity of local residents and adjacent properties / landowners and land users and to conform with policy DM2 of the Lancashire Minerals and Waste Local Plan.

A representative of Booths Ltd addressed the committee. He informed the committee that Booths warehouse and central offices had been affected by a series of explosions at the site. The explosive events had impacted upon the structure of their central offices, including the glass curtain walling and had caused significant distress to the staff and disruption to the business.  It was felt that the proposed increase in hours could lead to the potential for an increase in explosive events. Whilst it was acknowledged that the new pre shredding equipment may well assist with the potential for explosions, it was felt that the application should be deferred to allow for a monitoring period and to allow the Council to make an informed decision based on advice from the Environment Agency and the Health and Safety Executive. Booths advised that they would welcome discussions on the boundary treatments referred to at condition 4 of the application. 

The agent for the applicant addressed the committee and spoke in support of the application. He advised the committee that the concerns raised by the previous speaker had been addressed in the report.  The committee was urged not to defer the application as this would delay the installation of the pre-shredder.

Officers responded to concerns raised by the Members with regard to the operations at the site and explained how the pre-shredder would assist in preventing further explosive events. Members also raised concerns at the reports that the operator was currently working outside permitted hours. It was felt that an extension of hours may encourage the applicant to continue to do so leading to further amenity impacts on residents and businesses.  It was therefore Moved and Seconded:

  "That the application be refused".

Upon being put to the vote the Motion was Carried whereupon it was:

Resolved:  That the application be refused and that a further report setting out draft reasons for refusal be reported back to the committee for confirmation.