DUNMOW S rubbish dump WILL be built next to the Travelodge Hotel on Chelmsford Road despite residents demanding an alternative site. Homeowners who are against Essex County Council building a waste management centre yards from their back gardens requested

DUNMOW'S rubbish dump WILL be built next to the Travelodge Hotel on Chelmsford Road despite residents demanding an alternative site.

Homeowners who are against Essex County Council building a waste management centre yards from their back gardens requested an extensive search for a different site.

However, after a total of seven listed potentials were surveyed over the last few months none have been offered as a proper and viable alternative.

In a letter written to Dunmow Town Council, landfill restoration manager, Andrew Brown, said: "A series of alternative sites in the Great Dunmow area were investigated as a possible location for the proposed centre but all were rejected for a number of reasons.

"The land situated to the west of Hoblongs on Chelmsford Road is considered to represent the most suitable and appropriate site for the proposed development."

He added: "The planning application is now complete and due to enter the consultation stage imminently."

The search was initiated by voters during the Dunmow annual town meeting at Foakes Hall in March when, following a public outcry, town councillor Michael Miller proposed that the county council should be pushed into looking for sites.

Speaking at the time he said that the council should be acting on the residents' behalf and that many other sites seemed far more viable.

However those sites, including Highwoods Farm, the Chelmsford Road industrial estate, Smiths Farm, the Old Nursery adjacent to the sewage works, New Street, and Crumps Farm in Little Canfield, have all been turned down as "not suitable".

The waste management centre will be a site for household and business rubbish recycling as well as landfill waste compacting and storage. It will also serve as a new depot for Uttlesford dustcarts to be based, replacing the yard in New Street.

Due to be included in the plans are designs for a new road junction connecting Chelmsford Road to the A130.

Recently-elected county councillor for the Dunmow area, Susan Barker, said that traffic lights will be installed as part of the project to help control traffic.

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