A WASTE transfer station has been narrowly approved by angry councillors after people living nearby told of their ‘hell.’
Kenny Waste Management has been operating from the site on Audenshaw’s Groby Road North for four years without planning permission, but with a licence from the Environment Agency.
Residents on nearby Audenshaw Road left members of Tameside Council’s Speaker’s Panel (Planning) committee enraged with photos of skips being discarded and large vehicles parking outside their property, with claims they were as early as 6.41am.
Paula Bentley, who also displayed the effect it is having in her home – with dust entering her property – and cars parked nearby, described the facility as ‘a tip.’
She said: “It’s been four years of hell. That’s how I can describe it.
“This is happening now, it’s not projected. It happens every day for six days a week – it’s just disrespect.
“It’s incessant. The rest of the companies on Groby Road North are really considerate.
“Only a day before the meeting, 12 trips were logged before 7.06 am and 15 before 7.10am. It’s often 100 by 3pm.
“I suggest it will cause heath issues. I know what’s right and wrong and this is wrong – two wrongs don’t make a right. It’s unfair to open a tip without consultation.”
Claims from Kenny Waste Management that it was not their fault skips were being left and wagons park outside properties as they belonged to different firms did not wash as it was pointed out it was their site they were visiting.
They also irked Tameside Council with suggestions it said it would adopt Groby Road North if planning permission was given – it was pointed out it said the road must be improved to an adoptable standard.
Representatives highlighted the commercial reasons for creating the site as they applied for a change of use from commercial a vehicle breaker to a waste transfer station, including the erection of washing plant, waste operations shed, extension to existing site building, erection of weighbridges and office.
But claims they could not comment on the photos showing skips and issues were quickly debunked when fuming councillor Vincent Ricci plonked them on their desk and told them to look at them.
“I think Kenny has showed contempt to Tameside Council and utter contempt to residents,” he said. “How the hell can’t the drivers park on an unadopted road and I’d like to know why we’re here for retrospective permission only now?”
And Paul Eagleton. Technical director at Kenny Waste Management vowed to personally make sure there was no repeat after seeing the effect they were having.
He told the meeting, also pointing out the work will mean a £5 million-£6 million investment: “I can assure you our drivers aren’t allowed to go down Groby Road North until 7am.
“I’ll put a stop to the skips and wagons personally but it’s a waste transfer station, it’s not a tip.”
Planning permission was granted, with Cllrs Joyce Bowerman and Betty Affleck voting against, with a timescale of six months placed on improvements to Groby Road North, which is currently a dirt track.
Chair of the committee, Cllr Dave McNally, also made sure enforcement teams at Tameside Council were told to monitor the situation closely to prevent any repeat of the issues that were highlighted.