CONFUSION over the size of a new automatic recycling facility has alarmed residents after planners told them it would be over 121 feet high. In what turned out to be a typing error by an officer at Essex County Council s HQ in Chelmsford, the proposed hei

CONFUSION over the size of a new automatic recycling facility has alarmed residents after planners told them it would be over 121 feet high.

In what turned out to be a typing error by an officer at Essex County Council's HQ in Chelmsford, the proposed height had an extra digit added to its measurement.

"That would have made it the highest man made structure in the vicinity outside Stansted Airport," said Woodlands Park resident, John Welsh, who received a letter this week containing the erroneous data.

"My school boy level knowledge of metric conversions tells me that the centre is 59 feet long, three feet six inches wide, and 121 feet high," he said.

"Surely they cannot be accurate. If they are I would guess this would result in the biggest residents' opposition campaign outside of the Stop Stansted Expansion group ever seen in the Dunmow area."

Council planning officer Glenn Shaw confirmed that a nine had been added onto the figures by mistake and calmed the situation by saying that new letters would be issued with the correct figures on.

If planning permission is granted the 'TOMRA' Automated Recycling Centre, measuring 17.9m in length, 1.1m in width and 3.7m in height, will replace the current facility on the south side of the Tesco car park and will provide automatic sorting for cans, bottles and glass.

Because the system is mechanical it will make an impact on noise levels within a 120m radius, but the decibel level will only be as high as 70 decibels - the equivalent of a normal office conversation.

A final decision on the plans will be taken by Uttlesford District Council before August 5 this year.

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