The LLRA committee met on Thursday 6th July to discuss the news that Veolia intend to appeal against the 6 February 2017 decision to refuse planning permission for a waste transfer station at their Long Leys Road site.
Since Veolia’s original application was refused, the Residents’ Association has not been approached by Veolia or provided with any information on their future plans. Nothing has changed that would materially change the strength of feeling demonstrated against Veolia by residents in February 2017. On this basis the LLRA has a clear mandate from the community to oppose this development and the appeal. The proposed development is inappropriate in a primarily residential area and will have an unacceptable impact on the amenity of nearby residents.
On the 6th July, in an email to the LLRA to inform of Veolia’s intention to appeal, Veolia announced an intention to circulate “an update to local residents and neighbouring businesses shortly. We also intend to provide opportunities for interested parties to visit our site at an open day later this month or tour an existing Veolia waste transfer station that undertakes similar activities.”
The LLRA will engage with any such activities and act as a conduit for the community to hear what Veolia wish to say to the local community. We hope Veolia also recognises that communication is a two way process.
The LLRA will be writing to the Planning Inspectorate, to remind them of the strength of feeling in the community and if Veolia do appeal we will be seeking re-assurance that the Inspectorate will listen to residents concerns by offering the right to have our say in a public hearing.
It is disappointing that, five months after the original planning decision, Veolia have still yet to engage with Lincoln City Council to explore options on the alternative sites they have been offered. The LLRA intends to actively work with other stakeholders, including the City and County Councils as well as our newly elected MP, to find a satisfactory solution for residents.
This statement is issued on behalf of the LLRA by Jon Davies LLRA Secretary
Residents are reminded that they can sign up for the Long Leys Community Email list at long-leys.org/subscribe
An appeal will be expensive for Veolia and the Lincolnshire County Council. Barristers miay be employed by both.to substanciate the appeal and the recommendation to refuse in which the decision could go either way. There are three methods of appeal: written representations; informal hearing; and public inquiry. Written representation is by far the most popular method. It’s also the quickest, taking around four to five months from appeal to decision. Veolia will put down in writing all the reasons why they think permission should be granted and submit that statement, along with completed appeal forms to the Planning Inspectorate with a copy to the County Council. Unlike planning applications, there are no fees to pay for an appeal, but the company will incur fees if they pay for professional help to win their case
This French multonational company will try every trick in the book to get its way. They are not interested in the residential area of Long Leys Road, Lincoln or the consequences of their hours of operation which was 24/7 seven days a week. that was presented at the planning committee in February last. Their idea of consultation was an inaccurate public presentation to include maps which was held at The Grandstand. This was challenged by the public there. However, their PR team had no answers to the questions raised.
The reason why they wish to return to their planning application for a Waste Transfer Station on Long Leys Road is because the MP for Scunthorpe, councillors, and residents did not want a WTS in the Scunthorpe area and at the last minute withdrew their planning application – see . http://humberbusiness.com/news/firm-withdraws-application-for-waste-transfer/story-5306-detail/story
This company think that Lincoln is an easy target to get their way in turning their lorry maintenance depot into a Waste Transfer Station. What is disturbing for the local residents is that the planning officer might be advised to make a compromise with Veolia to avoid expensive legal fees. Veolia may be able to submit another application with modified plans free of charge within 12 months of the decision on their first planning application. In this case, the WTS could reduce its 24/7 operations to exclude night functions to work on a daily basis working between the hours of 8am to 10pm as an example.
It will be interesting if the County Council will be prepared to support the local residents, councillors, and the MP for Lincoln. Or will Big Business have its own way by doing at it pleases in using its financial clout together ignoring the residential area of Long Leys Road.
Veolia’s appeal has caught the attention of the media with them making reports as a news item throughout this week.
Lincs FM radio covered it on their news slot throughout Friday (7th July 2017) – see link on http://www.lincsfm.co.uk/news/local-news/plans-for-lincoln-waste-site-back-on-the-table/
Veolia cannot be trusted to communicate to the LLRA, councillors, the MP for Lincoln, and local residents. For their intentions are to win the appeal. They are not bothered with the nearby businesses as well. Also the Suthrell sisters have no interest about our area being residential as the Long Leys Investment Company is there to make money/profit out the the sites they own – see https://www.endole.co.uk/company/00799007/long-leys-investments-limited
Hopefully, Karen Lee, our Member of Parliament for Lincoln, will be involved as Nicholas Dakin, who has been the MP for Scunthorpe since 2010, helped with the case of Veolia’s WTS for the Scunthorpe area which Veolia withdrew their planning application at the last minute – see http://www.nicdakin.com/proposed_waste_transfer_station_at_bottesford and http://humberbusiness.com/news/firm-withdraws-application-for-waste-transfer/story-5306-detail/story