THERE were jubilant scenes at County Hall when controversial proposals to build an ash recycling plant in Bromsgrove’s green belt were thrown out by planners.
Residents cheered each time a councillor voted against plans to build the plant on Sandy Lane in Wildmoor.
Campaigners claim the Incinerator Bottom Ash (IBA) plant could potentially contaminate the water supply to 19,500 homes across Bromsgrove.
The gallery this morning was filled with campaigners from groups including the Fairfield Village Community Association, Wildmoor Residents Association, councillors and other community members.
Special coaches and cars had been laid on to ferry residents to Worcester for the meeting, showing the strength of public feeling on the issue.
Campaigners have been fighting to prevent the plant being built on the Sandy Lane site since 2013 when the application was first made by construction company Veolia.
The company re-submitted its application in August 2015 after receiving a permit from the Environmental Agency (EA).
Coun Sheila Blagg who has been a key protagonist behind the campaign to stop the development from taking shape told the Standard: “The permit from the EA is not relative to land use because it doesn’t have the ability to decide what is an appropriate use of land.
“The conditions which were in that permit would only apply should they have had the permission granted today for the land development – which they didn’t, and land development in the green belt is something that we would resist.
“It will now be over to whatever Veolia want to do. I wouldn’t like to in any way encourage an appeal, but they potentially might think about that.”
Sid Danks from the Wildmoor Residents Association was at the meeting to voice concerns about the plans.
He told the Standard: “I’ve been fortunate to represent the community this morning. The majority of residents totally oppose this type of application in the green belt which would bring a lot of harm.
“We recognise there are types of development which are certainly permissable within the green belt, but this industrialisation of the area is not sensible in the long term.”
Coun Karen May, who has worked with residents to help combat plans over several years, sat in the gallery with residents to show her support.
She said: “I think it’s the right decision for Bromsgrove. You can’t potentially put 19,500 homes at risk of contamination where there’s a primary acquifer there that feeds the residents so I whole heartedly support this decision.”
Fairfield and Belbroughton parish councillor Janice Boswell said she had avidly followed campaigners fighting to stop the green belt development.
She told the Standard: “Right from the beginning I’ve been so supportive of it, so really it’s such a pleasing and happy day to be here for this result, because it’s something we do not need in the village of Fairfield.
“Fairfield is a lovely happy healthy place to live.
“It’s been a long battle, and I think we’ve had such special people working for it.”
Campaigner Jan Spooner said she has supported the Wildmoor Residents Association for at least three years.
“All the residents’ concerns have been justified, particularly to do with policy.
“I think we’ve had excellent support from our county councillor Sheila Blagg, she’s been unstinting in her support.”
Councillors on the committee said they agreed with the principle of not building in a green belt area. Coun Sue Arkin told the committee the development would be present where it did not exist before and this would mean a large concrete slab would cover most of the area.
She added the lack of visibility of the project would not mean the green belt would be preserved and named these as her reasons for not supporting the project.
Campaigner Conrad Palmer thanked the Standard for its support in highlighting the issues and the drive.
“I’m concerned about what’s next, but I’m very thankful to the Fairfield Village Community Association for driving the campaign forward and keeping people informed of what’s going on.
“As I said earlier on, this isn’t just about affecting our community, potentially it could affect the wider Bromsgrove area.”
In a statement, Coun Rob Adams, chair of the planning and regulatory Committee said: “The Committee has decided to refuse this application because it is contrary to Green Belt policy, the County Council’s Waste Core Strategy and National Planning policy.
“While the County Council supports the principle of recovering and recycling materials as proposed by this application, in this instance the proposed Green Belt location is considered to be unacceptable.”
A spokesperson for Veolia said: “We are disappointed with today’s planning committee decision regarding our application to construct an Incinerator Bottom Ash Recycling Facility at Sandy Lane. We will now consider the reasons for refusal of this application.”
