Controversial landfill site plans thrown out

Protesters against the landfill site gathered at Devon County Hall in Exeter

Plans for a controversial landfill site in the Devon countryside have been thrown out after councillors unanimously refused permission.

Developers wanted permission to leave in place material that was previously illegally dumped at the site as well as bringing in thousands of tonnes of waste over the next eight years.

Campaigners against the plans described the site as an "enormous crater" and said they were relieved to hear the decision.

All parish and town councils in the area objected to the plans and Devon County Council officers made a recommendation to the council's Development Management Committee to reject the proposal.

Karl Wiseman led a community campaign against the landfill site plans

Decharge Ltd also wanted to create a recycling facility and improve access to the site near Halberton in mid Devon.

The officer's report said there was an "unauthorised disposal" of 23,500 tonnes of waste in 2016 which resulted in the landowner and a haulier being prosecuted by the Environment Agency.

Janine Banks, a member of the public who spoke against the proposals at the meeting, said: "It's an enormous crater near the A361 that you would not know was there."

Following the meeting at County Hall, Karl Wiseman, who led a campaign against the plans, said: "My reaction is one of relief.

"The only way to get to the site is either through a new housing estate or through several small villages with narrow lanes and no pavements.

"It's just madness to think there would be lorries going up and down while schoolchildren are being walked to school."

Headteacher Steven Badcott said the plans would have had a negative impact on children at his school

Steven Badcott, headteacher at Uplowman Primary School, spoke against the plans at the meeting and welcomed the decision.

He said: "I'm really pleased. I was really concerned about the impact it would have on the children at the school.

"I was really worried about the route the lorries would take and the children's safety."

Simon Coles, a planning consultant for Decharge Ltd, spoke at the meeting to say Devon needed more landfill space and there was poor distribution of sites at the moment.

Mr Coles declined to comment on the decision following the meeting.