Bunny: Residents concerned over recycling firm's lorries proposal

Residents are concerned about the proposals

Villagers have expressed fears over plans to increase deliveries at a recycling firm in Nottinghamshire.

Nottinghamshire County Council currently allows up to an average of 100 "movements per day" to and from Johnsons Aggregates in Bunny.

A fresh application sent to the authority seeks to more than double that, which has worried some residents.

Johnsons said it had met residents over concerns but did not want to make further comment.

Council papers show the existing arrangement allows a maximum of an average of 100 "vehicle movements per day", and up to 550 a week.

But the firm wants to increase this to an average of 240 movements a day - no more than 1,440 a week - to allow more waste to be brought on to the Loughborough Road site.

'Increased job security'

The company, based in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, also wants to extend some of its operations from Monday to Saturday, to include Sundays, and public and bank holidays.

According to planning documents, the firm is also aiming to increase the annual amount of waste handled by the site from 100,000 tonnes to 250,000 tonnes - to bring it in line with its environmental permit.

The changes, if approved, would create up to 15 full-time equivalent jobs and provide "increased job security" for existing employees, the company said.

But the proposals have sparked concern among residents in Bunny.

Rebecca Ferguson, 49, has lived in the village for 17 years and is worried about the impact of potential extra pollution and traffic.

She said: "It is a terrifying prospect of how [the village] might be impacted because of this planning application.

"It is a classic case of corporate greed over social and environmental responsibility."

Rebecca Ferguson believes the proposal is unfair to the residents of Bunny

Victoria White, head teacher of Bunny Primary School, is concerned about the proposal to allow more lorries to drive through the village.

"I'm worried about the increase in the pollution, and massively worried about the safety of my children that are coming to and from school every day," she said.

Paul Ferguson said the application was an "insult to the residents".

"We don't want them here," he said. "We certainly don't want them to expand. The spotlight is on the council now to do the right thing."

The plan is currently subject to consultation.

A spokesperson for the council said: "All comments received will be taken into account as part of the decision-making process."

A Johnsons Aggregates spokesperson said the firm did not wish to comment but added it had attended a meeting with objectors and supporters.