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10
Jun
Councillors approve asphalt plant near Knaresborough
Councillors have approved a controversial plan for an asphalt plant near Knaresborough.
Durham-based Tynedale Roadstone plans to build the plant next to the Allerton Waste Recovery Park off the A168.
However, the proposal has been met with fierce opposition from local residents, parish councils and politicians, including Liberal Democrat Tom Gordon, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, and his Conservative predecessor Andrew Jones.
Alec Shelbrooke, Wetherby and Easingwold MP, also raised concerns over the site.
The proposal, which was submitted in 2022, seeks permission to build on 2.1 hectares of land to the north of the Allerton Park incinerator.
A 22.5-metre exhaust stack, a single-storey site office cabin, a welfare storage area with associated car parking spaces and 11 aggregate storage bays are included in the plans.
Officers on North Yorkshire Council recommended the plant for approval at a meeting in Northallerton today (June 10).
‘Absolutely no need for this site’
Residents who objected told councillors they had concerns about toxins, dust and smell, as well as noise and traffic congestion.
Arabella Cornelius, who was speaking on behalf of Arkendale, Coneythorpe and Marton-cum-Grafton Parish Council, told the committee residents were concerned over air pollution, including that the developer had reached the air particulate limits at its Barton plant.
Ms Cornelius said:
Now the operator wants to build in a rural area. Yes, we have an incinerator but it does not make it an industrial setting.
Council officers said the plant would be subject to an environmental permit for emissions and air quality. They added that councillors should consider the Allerton Park site on its own merits and not compare it with other plants.
Cllr Robert Windass, a Conservative who represents the area on the council, said there was “absolutely no need” for the plant to be built on the site next to the Allerton Waste Recovery site.
He said:
The amount of toxins that is going to be ploughed from the chimney stack on that site, it is going to be thrown on locations like Whixley and Marton-cum-Grafton. These are residential areas set in the countryside. There is absolutely no need for this plant to be sited there.
Case officer Sukaina Devraj’s said the site was allocated in the council’s minerals and waste plan for development.
Allerton Waste Recovery Park. Image: Google Streetview
Katie Brown, planning agent who spoke on behalf of Tynedale Roadstone, told councillors that the company was “committed to investing in the site”.
She added that the plant would have no “unacceptable impact” on air quality or transport.
Ms Brown said:
My client has identified the need for the plant and is committed to investing in the site. The plant will be an important part of the area’s transport support infrastructure and take advantage of a site specifically allocated for this purpose.
Further justification for its location or its need is not required. It is allocated for this use.
‘I cannot ignore objectors’
Cllr Arnold Warneken, a Green Party councillor who represents Ouseburn, proposed that the application be refused on the grounds of its impact on climate change and public health and that it offered no significant economic benefit.
He said:
I cannot ignore 1,000 objectors, eight parish councils, the Woodland Trust, two MPs and a local member on this.
However, the motion was rejected by the committee.
Councillors voted in line with council officer’s recommendations to approve the proposal.
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