Archived decisions

Contact: Peter Chadwick, ext 6728

1. Summary

1.1 Planning permission is sought to retain the Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) at Fishery Lane, Hayling Island for a further period of three years beyond 31 December 2002 when the current planning permission expires. Additional fencing and site changes are also proposed to mitigate the impact of the site on the neighbouring sites. The recommendation is to approve the application, subject to conditions.

2. Site and Proposals

2.1 The site, illustrated on the attached plan, comprises an area of about 0.08 hectare, surrounded on three sides by holiday and residential caravan sites, and adjoins a waste water pumping station operated by Southern Water. Access to the site is directly onto Fishery Lane.

2.2 The Fishery Lane HWRC has been operational for many years. In February 1999 a temporary planning permission was granted which expires on 31 December 2002. The proposal is to retain the site for a further three years, and to carry out additional works to mitigate traffic and noise impacts. These involve erecting a three metre high close boarded fence on the site boundary with the neighbouring caravan park, and reorganising the operation of the site to use a variable spare bay, which reduces the servicing time for changing bins.

2.3 Since 1999 the County Council has sought to find a suitable replacement for the site. Whilst a potential site was considered at Mill Rythe, the development costs were prohibitive. The intention is still to relocate to a more suitable site, if one can be found. Temporary consent is sought to enable the service to continue whilst the site search continues. A public workshop in May 2002 involving 35 Hayling Island residents supported the HWRC service.

3. Development Plan

3.1 Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton Minerals and Waste Local Plan (adopted December 1998) Policy 46 concerns proposals for waste transfer and recycling (see attached appendix).

4. Consultations

4.1 Comments are awaited from Havant Borough Council and the Environmental Health Officer.

4.2 The County Council (Highways) comments that there are some existing highway problems at the facility, such as blocking back onto Fishery Lane. This is due to the site being busy and physically constrained. Highway works, in the form of road markings, have been carried out at the site access and Fishery Lane, which have helped to ease some of the traffic problems. It is recognised that an active search for an alternative site is under way, but there are time delays in the need for planning permission and construction if an alternative site is found. The HWRC provides a valuable service for local residents and there is a need to maintain the service. Accordingly, there is no highway objection to the planning application.

4.3 The Environment Agency (Hampshire) and Southern Water raise no objection.

5. Representations

5.1 Letters of objection have been received from three neighbouring residents on the grounds that site causes noise and smell nuisance; noise from lorries; lack of privacy as gardens overlooked by users of the HWRC; vermin; and paper and plastics blown into gardens in windy conditions.

5.2 The local Member, Councillor Gale, has been informed.

6. Officer's Comments

6.1 The retention of the HWRC service at Hayling Island is supported locally, as shown by the results of the recent workshop. However, it is recognised that the existing site at Fishery Lane is not ideally situated, being a small site next to holiday and residential caravan sites. In addition, there are operational difficulties resulting in queueing along Fishery Lane at busy times, and when waste bins need changing. An alternative site on Hayling Island would be the preferred option, and is currently being sought. However, a suitable affordable site has yet to be found.

6.2 On balance, it is considered that there is a need to maintain the service and that a further three year period would be reasonable to seek an alternative site. In addition, further measures are proposed, including fencing, with this application to mitigate the adverse impacts.

Recommendation

That planning permission for the retention of the Household Waste Recycling Centre, provision of a three metre high fence and site amendments at Household Waste Recycling Centre, Fishery Lane, Hayling Island (Application No. 02/58240/002) be approved, subject to the following conditions:

Time Limit

(1) The development hereby permitted shall be for a temporary period expiring on 31 December 2005, or when the site ceases to be used as a household waste recycling centre, whichever is the sooner.

Reason: The development is of a type in this location not considered suitable for permanent retention.

Hours of Operation

(2) The site shall operate between 0900 and 1800 hours from 1 April to 30 September and 0900 and 1630 during the rest of the year, apart from 25 and 26 December when the site shall be closed. No vehicles, including those servicing the site, shall enter or leave the site outside these times.

Reason: In the interests of local amenity.

Types of Waste

(3) The recycling hereby permitted shall be restricted to the sorting of household waste brought to the site by members of the public. No trade waste shall be brought to the site, and no vehicles, trailers or caravans shall be stored or dismantled.

Reason: In the interests of local amenity.

Pollution Control

(4) No refuse shall be burnt on the site.

Reason: To prevent pollution of the water environment.

(5) Any above ground oil/chemical storage tank/container and associated pipework shall be bunded so as to retain at least 110% of the volume of the tanks'/containers' capacity within the bund which should be sealed to avoid any spillages.

Reason: To prevent pollution of the water environment.

(6) The proposed discharge of surface water to any watercourse, surface water sewer or soakaway must pass through an oil interceptor designed and constructed to have a capacity and details compatible with the site being drained. Roof water shall not pass through the interceptor.

Reason: To prevent pollution of the water environment.

Restoration

(7) Not later than six months from the cessation of operations or such date as the Waste Planning Authority may approve in writing, all plant, machinery, foundations, waste bins, portacabins, hardstandings and access roads no longer required in connection with the restoration or future use of the site shall be removed.

Reason: To ensure the satisfactory restoration of the site.

(8) The site shall be restored in accordance with a scheme to be submitted for approval to the Waste Planning Authority within two years of the date of this permission and implemented within six months of the date of cessation of recycling operations as outlined in Condition (1) above. The scheme shall include details of the phased restoration of the site and the general nature of the intended after-use.

Reason: To ensure that the site is satisfactorily restored.

7605/PDC

APPENDIX

HAMPSHIRE, PORTSMOUTH AND SOUTHAMPTON MINERALS AND WASTE LOCAL PLAN (ADOPTED 17 DECEMBER 1998)

Policy 46

The Waste Planning Authorities will normally permit the use of land and the erection of plant and buildings for the recycling, transfer, storage and other treatment or handling of waste (excluding waste processing facilities covered by Policy 45) provided that:

(i) the proposed site is located near to the likely source(s) of waste and/or the market(s) for the recycled or recovered materials; and

(ii) the proposed site is located close to and has adequate access to the Hampshire Lorry Route Network (as shown on the proposals map), so that the development would not be likely to cause unacceptable traffic impact (including the environmental impact of traffic) on the local highway network; and

(iii) the proposed site is located:

(a) within an existing industrial site or on land which is permitted or allocated for industrial development; or

(b) within an area of land in the countryside that has already been disturbed by permanent development (a brownfield site); or

(c) at a waste disposal landfill or landraising site provided that the proposed development is connected with the waste disposal operation and is for a temporary period commensurate with the operational life of the waste disposal facility; and

(iv) the proposed site is located and the proposal includes adequate measures to ensure that no unacceptable impact would be likely to be caused to the occupants or users of houses, other residential buildings, schools, hospitals and other environmentally sensitive buildings and land uses by reason of noise, dust, fumes, smell or other cause; and

(v) the proposed site is located so as to avoid unacceptable impact on landscape, nature conservation and archaeological interests; and

(vi) the proposed site is located and the proposal includes adequate measures to ensure that there would be no significant risk of pollution or danger to public health or safety; and

(vii) the proposed site is located and, if necessary, the proposal includes landscaping measures to ensure that the development would not cause unacceptable visual intrusion.