Member Article

Seaton Meadows landfill planning decision over-ruled

Able UK, the operator of the Seaton Meadows landfill site in Hartlepool has welcomed a planning inspector’s decision to over-rule a decision by Hartlepool Council

Andrew Jacques, managing director of Able UK and site operators Alab Environmental Services, hopes that the development will allow the firm to ’ move forward in a constructive and positive way.’

In August 2012, Able UK had an application for extending the height of the landfill site and revising its restoration plan turned down by members of the Borough Council’s Planning Committee - despite receiving a clear recommendation from officers that it should be approved.

Now following a hearing in October this year, planning inspector has ruled that the application ‘would not cause any significant harm and would constitute sustainable development.’

Mr Jacques said: “The application arose out of a specific safety need to raise the height of the site. It had the approval of the Council’s officers and support from the other statutory consultees and the Council’s own ecologist also raised no objections.

“Regrettably the decision by the members of the Planning Committee to refuse the application was an example of history repeating itself—in January 2010 the Council was compelled to pay £470,000 towards Able costs following a previously flawed decision. In this latest instance the inspector has ruled that again the council will have to meet part of our costs.

“Whilst we are pleased with the outcome of our appeal, it is a pity that it had to happen at all but what we now hope is that it will be possible for us to work with the authority and move forward in a way which can avoid any further instances of this kind.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .