Published: Thursday, 20th November, 2008 11:37am

Controversial waste site expected to get the go ahead

by Sarah Stead

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CONTROVERSIAL proposals to build a waste facility in Padworth are expected to be approved at a special planning committee meeting.

The multi-purpose waste facility, which would become the biggest waste site in the district, would see a number of large buildings, a 30m chimney stack, car parks and access roads built at the Padworth Sidings site. It will process 95,000 tonnes of waste each year when operating at full capacity.

Residents have been fighting the proposal for a number of years, with many facing the prospect of being sandwiched between the site and the Grundon recycling facility across the other side of the A4 Bath Road.

Graham Newman, a Bath Road resident and Padworth Against Waste Site Chairman (PAWS), said: "The proposed waste processing site at Padworth Sidings will be a local disaster, this is an industrial facility that requires an industrial location.

"It doesn't belong in a rural environment surrounded by residential properties. Such facilities should be appropriately sited close to the main centres of waste generation on an industrial estate such as Colthrop, Thatcham."

Mr Newman said the site threatened noise, smell, rats and light pollution seven days a week, most days from 3am-10pm and comes as an unnecessary waste of taxpayer's money as the facilities are not required.

He said the council had underestimated vehicle movements around the proposed site and based its research on best case scenarios rather than realistic estimates.

He added: "An independent traffic consultant using up to date data has shown that only a tiny increase in traffic would cause tailbacks on to the A4.

"The proposed measures to deal with increased traffic are wholly inadequate and would create a major hazard to public health on Padworth Lane, the A4 and the surrounding road network.

"Common sense and the weight of public opinion is completely against this proposal, we must all maintain the pressure in the hope that our elected representatives see sense and listen to the people - we do not want this waste site in the middle of our village."

West Berkshire Council spokesman Phil Spray said: "The council followed the required procurement process which was concluded with the award of the contract to Veolia which delivers value for money.

"The Padworth Sidings site is a preferred area identified for waste management development within the adopted Waste Local Plan and any environmental impacts would be controlled to the appropriate standards and set as part of the planning determination process."

The meeting starts at 6.30pm on Monday at Pangbourne Village Hall in Station Road.