What are the issues FAQ

What problems where there in the past?
The site was used for waste transfer for a number of years until a serious fire in 2002. While the site was operating as a waste transfer station residents and businesses frequently endured noxious odours, plagues of flies, as well as movement of heavy traffic and waste spillage on to the surrounding roads.

What is being proposed?
The Council is proposing the site is suitable to again be considered as a waste transfer station to be operated by a private company to handle waste that can not be recycled: food waste; nappies; etc. collected from the North West side of the city, Guiseley, Horsforth, Rawdon, Otley, Adel, Kirkstall and elsewhere, to be transferred from bin collection vehicles to Heavy Goods Vehicles for transport to the proposed incinerator site at Cross Green.

Why do we think it is an unsuitable site, is it just ‘not in my back yard’?
Since the original transfer station was first operated the area around the site has changed considerably over the years, from industrial estate under the shadow of a coal fired power station, to the landscape of today of retail and leisure. We believe it would be incredibly difficult to find a site that is closer to a combination of dense residential housing, local schools, restaurants and leisure. Kirkstall Road is already one on the most congested roads in the city, the latest council reports describe it as ‘saturated’. Waste has to be handled somewhere, but we believe there are other more suitable sites, such as ex-industrial land which is well away from residential housing, retail, and leisure facilities.

At the Kirkstall/Burley Forum in July the Council Officers were asked, “If, in their professional opinion, there had not previously been a waste transfer station on the site would they consider it a suitable location?” The answer was it would be a matter for a planning committee. Surely Council Officers would have an opinion as to whether it would be worth submitting a planning application, so we have to take the answer as either they have no professional opinion or more likely that they would not consider it a suitable site.

What do the council say?
The Council Officers are saying that the advanced modern technology the odours, flies etc. can be contained and controlled by operating a sealed building at a lower air pressure inside than out.

What do we say?
With such an investment of a new building, let’s put it somewhere more appropriate where the disturbance from traffic and effects of any emissions on businesses and residents are minimised. Advanced modern technology will not protect us against mechanical breakdowns, human error and political decisions elsewhere. The fire in 2002 and the smells in recent weeks prove this. When things go wrong, and they certainly will go wrong, then there will be huge piles of stinking rubbish outside.

What would we do with the site?
The site currently serves a useful purpose as a Household Waste Recycling Centre, this should be modernised with operating restrictions put in place to minimise noise disturbance that is currently affecting local residents.