Firms plan to take on fire-ravaged Four Winds site

The Four Winds industrial estate in Haynes was destroyed by fire in 2016

Two firms have applied to run new operations at an industrial site ravaged by a fire nine years ago.

Most of the buildings on the Four Winds trading estate alongside the A6, at Haynes West End, Bedfordshire were destroyed by the fire in May 2016.

Retrospective planning permission has been sought for an extension to the lawful waste transfer facility and for the "importation, storage and distribution of shipping containers".

But Haynes Parish Council said in a statement that it "most strongly objects, as our proposed strengthened conditions have been ignored".

Central Bedfordshire Council's senior minerals and waste planning officer Dee Walker said that appropriate conditions should provide the authority "with stricter controls over their activities".

More than 80 firefighters tackled the blaze in 2016

In September 2019, the ownership of the whole site changed and by mid-2020 all the fire-damaged derelict buildings had been removed.

The current land ownership is split approximately 50:50.

Farren Hydraulics Limited has sought permission to operate the northern section, including an extension to the existing lawful waste transfer facility and a change of use of land to import, store and distribute shipping containers.

Entyre Group Limited has applied to operate the southern section, which includes the former fuel station and bungalow, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Ms Walker told a development management committee on 24 September: "The southern section requires retrospective planning permission to import, store and distribute tyres, and better access arrangements."

Central Bedfordshire's community network councillor Rebecca Hares said: "The conditions attached to this application aren't strong enough."

She said the "key concern" was the highways access which was "substandard".

The twisted metal of the fire-damaged derelict buildings was all removed by mid-2020

"After the fire, many of the historic uses operating from the site ceased," said Director of CC Town Planning and chartered town planner, Matt Collison.

"Now two committed landowners are willing to invest significantly in improvements.

"Our clients would resume work around junction safety, resurfacing roads, upgrading drainage, boundary fencing and landscaping, installing lighting, signage and CCTV, and modifying the access to prevent right turns."

Councillors approved the northern section plans subject to finalising highways conditions, implementing dust controls and sufficient landscaping.

The southern site proposals were agreed, subject to fire hydrants being provided and suitable landscaping.