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03
Jun
‘It is wrong’: Politicians and residents criticise asphalt plant plan near Knaresborough
Politicians and residents have objected to a controversial planned asphalt plant near Knaresborough.
The proposal has been fiercely resisted amid concerns the plant, next to Allerton Waste Recovery Park, would emit fumes containing carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and lead in neighbouring areas.
Tynedale Roadstone, which is based in Durham, plans to build the plant just off the A168.
It would include 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.
The proposal has been recommended for approval by North Yorkshire Council officers at meeting on Tuesday (June 10).
Cllr Robert Windass.
But, Cllr Robert Windass, a Conservative who represents the area on the council, criticised the plan as the “wrong thing in the wrong place”.
He told the Stray Ferret:
I oppose it completely. It is wrong. There are enough asphalt plants around this area.
It is the wrong thing in the wrong place. The people in Marton-cum-Grafton were against the waste recovery plant, with this asphalt plant there is going to be a horrible stench.
Cllr Windass added that he had received correspondence from residents who have been concerned about the prospect of the plant being built.
‘The impact is enormous’
Residents across the area around Allerton Park have already raised significant concern over the proposal.
Knaresborough Town Council, Marton-cum-Grafton Parish Council, Great Ousebrn Parish Council, Whixley Parish Council, Kirk Hammeron Parish Council, Little Ouseburn, Kirby Hall and Thorpe Underwood Parish Council are among those who objected.
Campaigners from the Communities Against Toxins group, which opposes the plan, have also previously held demonstrations at Marton-cum-Grafton village hall over concerns about emissions.
Linda Potter, former chairman of the Harrogate and District Campaign for Rural England, said the plan would have a particularly harmful impact on Allerton Castle.
She said:
The impact on Allerton Castle is enormous. You look out of the castle windows and see the chimney. Goodness knows what it would look like if a tarmac plant opened up.
Meanwhile, Bella Cornelius, who sits on Marton-cum-Grafton Parish Council, raised concern over the impact of the site on air quality.
Tynedale Roadstone Ltd said in its plans there would be “no significant effects” on air quality and that traffic generated by the plant was unlikely to cause any safety concerns.
However, Ms Cornelius has questioned the level of monitoring of air quality — particularly by North Yorkshire Council.
She said:
There is no air quality monitoring in our communities to protect us. Just air quality assessments using 20 year old data from Knaresborough. Is the council waiting for a cancer cluster to form before taking air pollution around Allerton Park seriously?
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