THE BEST SITE around Bridport for a new household recycling centre and waste transfer station is Broomhills, just off the A35.
So concludes the final stage of an independent review of seven possible locations, published this week by Dorset County Council.
- THE MUNICIPAL SEVEN
- From west to east: Miles Cross 1, Miles Cross 2, Eype Junction, Broomhills Farm, Gore Cross, Green Lane Nursery, Lilac Farm
Broomhills is just ahead of Gore Cross, on the northern edge of Bridport, and Miles Cross 2 on the town’s western fringe.
Main reasons: land at Broomhills has already been partially developed (it has several commercial scale greenhouses). Broomhills comes out best for air quality and there are few residential properties nearby. It’s on the floor of the Brit Valley and is fairly enclosed, so would have the least impact of all sites considered on Dorset’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
Coming to Broomhills? This waste management centre in Whitchurch, Shropshire combines a Household Recycling Centre and transfer and recyclate bulking station similar to that proposed for Bridport. Dorset County Council hopes that Bridport's new facility will also include vehicle parking and depot. Target date for opening is Autumn 2013.
Robert Gould, Dorset County Council’s Cabinet member for the environment, said: “We are committed to finding the most suitable site for a new facility for the people of Bridport and the surrounding area. Of the top three locations, the report concludes that there is no clear ‘winner’ as each site has different constraints.
“Of the seven short-listed sites, Gore Cross and Miles Cross 2 were both assessed as having development potential. However, the findings of the report suggest that Broomhills has greater potential for a new household recycling centre and waste transfer station”.
Consultants took into account the conclusions of technical assessments, public feedback, and consultation with district and parish councils as well as bodies such as the Dorset AONB Partnership.
However, more work is required. Further discussions with the Highways Agency and more detailed traffic studies and access designs are needed.
The Highways Agency must agree that traffic flow along the A35 will not be detrimentally affected. Possible? Consultants suggest that a re-designed access to Broomhills could improve existing arrangements on the A35.
- Additional investigations required include:
- More detailed ground water and flood risk assessments
- Nature conservation studies to identify any protected species
- Pedestrian access
- Costs of development
The report’s findings will be presented to Dorset County Council’s cabinet on September 15, with a recommendation that these additional investigations are carried out. Cabinet members must then decide what to do.
Robert Gould added: “Public views played an important part in the final evaluation, so thank you to everyone who provided feedback. In total 290 residents commented on the sites during this stage, and these comments have been incorporated into the overall evaluation of each site.
“In addition, we have received petitions since the end of the latest consultation from Walditch Parish Council and the Eype Recycling Committee. Cabinet members will be made aware of these petitions as part of a report presenting the findings of the Stage 2 report to Cabinet.
“In general, feedback suggested that local people appreciate that Bridport needs a new facility, that no site is perfect and choosing one is challenging. This is reflected in the findings, which show there was support and opposition for all seven sites.”
A county council spokeswoman said that once a site had been chosen for a planning application, public information days would be held. People can also comment after a planning application has been submitted.
A decision on the temporary planning consent for the current household recycling centre in South Street is expected this autumn.
To read the full report visit www.dorsetforyou.com/Bridportstagetworeport
Related posts
- Six sites shortlisted, including one near the Eype picnic area
- Leading councillor Ronald Coatsworth gores Dorset County Council
- Pressure group NOWTS speaks out
- Well-known Bridport green Leon Edwards calls for leadership and action
- Steve Spear of NOWTS responds to Leon Edwards
- Bridport: Has a site finally been found for a new waste transfer station?
- Bridport waste transfer exhibition: NOWTS’ view – “It’s endgame time”
- Two visitors a minute at Bridport waste transfer show
- New Bridport waste transfer station planned for Autumn 2013
Editor’s Note: The above is based on a press release issued by Dorset County Council.
It will be updated when I’ve had chance to better digest the report.
Related posts:
- Bridport waste row: New waste transfer station could be built by picnic area SIX sites – including one by a picnic area –...
- New Bridport waste transfer station planned for Autumn 2013 SO, in the end, after flocking in at the rate...
- Bridport: Has a site finally been found for a new waste transfer station? A FORMER dairy farm could become a new household recycling centre...
- Bridport waste transfer station exhibition – NOWTS’ view: ‘It’s endgame time’ Editor’s Note: Steve Spear is a member of the pressure group...
- Two visitors a minute at Bridport waste transfer show HUNDREDS of people from the Bridport area have been shunning the hot weather...
Path of least resistance
Hmmm… No immediate locals to complain, site owned by local landowner happy to sell and allow development therefore setting precedent for future development on yet another flood plain… I want this thing built ASAP but it looks like this decision has been made based on path of least resistance.
If this really is the best option then the next stage of planning must be to do a traffic survey of the site in the height of SUMMER (as opposed to the one done in early spring!) and needs to include the guarantee that no further development will be allowed.
Good news for some though – Steve Spears and his fellow Nimbys can rest assured that they can still walk their dogs at Gore Cross and (eventually) drive to someone else’s back yard to dump their rubbish. While King of Council(s) Bling, Ron Coatsworth (he of £3 Grand a month in allowances from us Council Tax payers) must now be very happy – his cosy number isn’t threatened by a voters’ revolt in his electoral division.
My real concern however is that the site issue is far from over and the completion date for this – if it doesn’t have any set-backs – is still 2013! If only what this town desperately needed was another Supermarket or car parking then it would have been resolved years ago.
Action
There will an action group formed and a petition in circulation before the weekend.
Get it built – at Gore Cross
Not to be one to say told you so but… A long time ago when the St Andrews road mob and Ronny Coatsworth were starting their revolt over Gore Cross I said that Broomhills would end up being picked. Reasons being:
A) Landowner Melvin who has owned this land since the mid 80s and has tried every thing going to develop it (including railways lol – does the offer of you paying for “the railway” still stand Melvin??) http://www.bridportnews.co.uk/news/1765563.0/
Also, does a few greenhouses mean industrial? I remember many a happy summers day as a kid walking across the fields to West Bay, can’t remember many walks around Gore Cross, few cross country runs with Mr Blair maybe.
B) it’s well away from St Andrews road and the well organised folk who bought their houses next to a main road but wish to stop all traffic on it. As Leon says, there’s not many people living near it to complain “not in my back yard”, trouble is, there’s still a few of us left that care about the whole town and not just the value of our houses.
Of course there is the issue of traffic on the A35, a rolling road block in summer, a new junction would have to be built (who’s paying?), a junction just down the road from the other junction on this stretch of road which is a well known accident spot, so people are going to have to take some gambles getting back on this road and there WILL be accidents there, so to all you people in St Andrews road, sleep well, knowing there will be less traffic outside your house, but look at the faces of the injured or even dead folk who are involved in accidents cos of your nimby attitude.
Broomhills is a bewt spot that should be saved from concrete and tarmac. (Back to the greenhouse thing, anyone got a copy of the planning permission for them? does it set a precident for heavy industrial use?). Gore Cross was planned to be industrial, it’s out of town, money and plans are already committed, stop messing about, get it built.
The only chance?
Dorset Boy – I echo all you’ve said. You may have missed my point though – that while we all should care about the wider well-being of this bit of rock, fewer immediate homes (will the rent on my Magna flat be affected…?) mean fewer objectors (though no less vociferous I’m sure) which may be easier to deflect. I personally agree that Gore Cross presents the best option, especially if potential ‘problems’ are dealt with by way of Lorry embargos during school starts/finishing; getting rid of lib dem parking (irregularly flip-flopping from one side of the road to the other), and providing local collections of heavy materials. But if the only chance of getting it built some time this decade means Broomhills then, with reservations and the conditions suggested above and previously, I would have to support it. We all would – it’s our crap after all.
I know this family very, very well.
I can tell you that there most certainly will be houses etc being built eventually.
Believe me, it really is only about money.
Think what you like about what has been said in this thread.
I can tell you it was always going to be Broomhills Farm.