County look for waste site alternatives

THE SEARCH is on for an alternative site for Dunmow s proposed rubbish tip. After a public outcry at the annual town meeting last week, town councillors questioned whether the proposed location on Chelmsford Road is really the best option. Essex County Co

THE SEARCH is on for an alternative site for Dunmow's proposed rubbish tip.

After a public outcry at the annual town meeting last week, town councillors questioned whether the proposed location on Chelmsford Road is really the best option.

Essex County Council (ECC) has listened to the pleas from the public and has said it will now look at different sites around the town.

A council spokesman said: "ECC carried out an exhaustive search into possible sites for the new waste management centre in Dunmow before the original decision was taken.

"We have received a letter from Great Dunmow Town Council requesting that we look into possible alternative sites again.

"We are happy to co-operate with this request and we will be conducting a thorough search to establish whether a suitable alternative site is available.

"We will let the town council know the results of the search as soon as they are available."

The news will be seen as a victory for the nearby homeowners, who have seen house prices plummet since the plans first came to light.

Town councillor, Wendy Barron, said: "We needed to know if any other sites were ever considered during the planning process because the current one would mean hell for residents living nearby. We need to think about our resident's needs."

The centre will house a bulking station for household and commercial rubbish and will also be a place for businesses and the public to dump waste.

Uttlesford District Council dust carts will also be parked there overnight, leaving at 7am to do daily rounds.

At the town meeting a site on Stortford Road, which has been used for illegal pallet storage, was discussed as an ideal location, but it is unlikely to receive permission as the land is privately owned and is not currently for sale.

If no alternatives are identified then ECC will continue to pursue its current plans at Chelmsford Road and a planning application will be submitted for consultation later this year.