Councillors oppose Ellesmere landfill site extension

Parish councillors have objected to plans to extend the life of a north Shropshire landfill site.

At last night's meeting, Welshampton and Lyneal councillors opposed Tudor Griffiths Limited's bid to continue using its Spunhill site, near Ellesmere, for 24 more years.

The firm, which employs about 70 people at the site, wants permission from Shropshire Council to continue sending non-hazardous waste to landfill.

Bosses have applied to vary the conditions, namely the time limits, of the existing permission to operate the landfill site, which was granted in 1995 and expired on December 31, 2010.

But parish councillors say promises have been broken to restore the landfill site to fields by 2010.

Parish council chairman, Councillor Chris Symes, said: "In 1995 the good people of Colemere objected to Tudor Griffiths' plans but were assured the life of the site would not go beyond 2010.

"Our objection is based on the fact that in 1995 the district council said 15 years was an acceptable time limit, that time is up and now they want another 25 years."

A report on behalf of Tudor Griffiths says a further 1,062,000 cubic metres of landfill space would be opened up for non-hazardous was­te if Shirehall approves the scheme.