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COMMITTEE : SOUTHERN AREA

DATE : 13 JANUARY 2000

REPORT OF : FORWARD PLANNING OFFICER

SUBJECT : WILTSHIRE & SWINDON WASTE LOCAL PLAN 2011

CONSULTATION ON ISSUES & OPTIONS
1.0 Purpose of Report

The Consultation Draft of the 'Wiltshire & Swindon Waste Local Plan 2011' (WLP) was published in November 1999, with a consultation period running to 7^th February 2000. This report considers the issues and options and makes recommendations on the views to be put forward by the District Council. Its content will also be discussed at Planning Committee on 26^th January.

Please note the Committee is asked only to deal with the recommendations relating to its area.

1.2 A copy of the WLP is available for inspection in the Members Room.

Recommendation 1:

Following consideration by the Planning Committee on 26 January, Salisbury District Council (SDC) send a copy of this report, and the Minutes from this Committee Meeting and the Planning Committee to Wiltshire County Council, as their formal response to the WLP.
2.0 Background

2.1 Under Section 38(2) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, as amended by the Planning and Compensation Act 1991, Waste Planning Authorities are required to prepare a WLP to provide for sustainable waste management.

2.2 The Consultation Draft sets out a number of Issues and Options for the Wiltshire Plan Area. It should be noted that there will be further opportunity to comment on the WLP when it is published in a draft form.

3.0 The Current Situation and Assessing Future Waste Management Needs

3.1 Types of Waste

Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 waste is divided into controlled and uncontrolled waste. For the purposes of the WLP controlled waste is split into:

Household Waste - waste collected from domestic premises and waste taken to civic amenity sites;

Commercial and Industrial Waste - waste from commercial premises such as shops and offices and from industry;

Construction Industry Waste - waste arising from the demolition and construction industry. This category also includes Soils and sub-Soil Waste, which is material from construction sites; and

Special Waste - waste which is dangerous or difficult to treat or dispose of.

3.2 Another approach to categorising waste is as non-inert and inert. Non-inert waste comprises materials that are biodegradable and would generally include household, industrial and commercial. Inert waste comprises materials which are not biodegradable and includes most construction waste such as naturally excavated soils and sub-soils.

3.3 The Salisbury Area

The WLP acknowledges that the quality of information on the amount of waste generated is poor at present, and it is therefore difficult to provide accurate information on the amount of waste produced (or 'arising') within the Plan Area.

3.4 The WLP recognises that the location of landfill and landraise sites is not uniform throughout the Plan Area, but are clustered in certain locations. At June 1999 the WLP identifies the following landfill/landraise sites in the Salisbury area as:

Small Inert Waste Sites:
Matrons College Farm **
Barford Cliff
Lower Pensworth

Large Inert Waste Sites:
Little Ridgehams Copse

Small Non-Inert Waste Sites: N/A

Large Non-Inert Waste Sites:
Whiteparish Chalk Quarry
Moor Farm **
Pound Bottom

** Non Operational

3.5 It is acknowledged in the WLP that many of the sites are on the periphery of the Plan Area and this has led to substantial quantities of waste being imported.

3.6 Commercial & Industrial Waste

In the Salisbury area, 62% of the waste deposited in licensed landfill/landraise sites is currently imported from outside the Plan Area, compared with 28% for the Plan Area as a whole.

Recommendation 2:

SDC considers that high levels of imports are unsustainable, and request further investigation into reducing commercial and industrial waste imports from Hampshire.

3.7 Household & Civic Amenity

There are no household waste landfill/landraise sites in the Salisbury area. A Civic Amenity site exists at the Churchfields Industrial Estate and waste is transferred to Compton Bassett (North Wiltshire) via transfer stations at Thorny Down, near Salisbury.

Recommendation 3:

SDC considers that, just as high levels of commercial and industrial waste imports are unsustainable, the continued transfer of household waste to Compton Bassett is not sustainable.
4.0 Key Objectives

4.1 The 'Waste Local Plan 2011' identifies six key objectives, which, once agreed, will form the foundation upon which the area-based proposals will follow. It is intended that these objectives should take into account the existing waste situation in the Plan Area and the need to strike a balance between providing an adequate network of facilities, whilst protecting the environment.

4.2 Objective 1 : Need/Regional Self Sufficiency

To ensure that there are sufficient waste management facilities to deal with an amount of waste equivalent to that produced within Wiltshire and Swindon. An appropriate contribution to meeting the waste management needs of the region should be made where this is the most sustainable option.

4.3 Objective 2 : The Proximity Principle

To encourage the location of waste management facilities as close as practicable to the point where waste was produced.

4.4 Objective 3 : Waste Hierachy

To reduce the plan area's reliance on landfill and landraise to encourage more sustainable methods of waste management, including waste reduction, reuse, recycling, composting and energy recovery.

4.5 To help solve this problem it is acknowledged that we need to do the following in descending order of priority (ie. The Waste Hierachy):

Reduce the amount of waste we produce; then

Re-use as much of it as possible, so saving money; then

Recover value from waste by recycling, composting, or extracting energy to the benefit of the whole community; then

Dispose of waste by tipping

4.6 Objective 4 : The Best Practicable Environmental Option

To manage waste in the way that provides most benefit to or causes least damage to the environment (The Best Practicable Environmental Option).

4.7 Objective 5 : Controlling the Impacts of Waste Management

To reduce the adverse impacts of waste management on the natural and built environment and on people's quality of life.

4.8 Objective 6 : Restoration and After-use

To ensure completed waste management sites are restored to a condition suitable for beneficial final uses

Recommendation 4:

SDC supports the six broad objectives of the WLP and their commitment to regional sustainability, the 'proximity principle', reducing the plan area's reliance on landfill and landraise, safeguarding the environment, protecting the amenities of local people who live close to waste facilities and the restoration and after-use of affected sites.
5.0 Key Issues Affecting the Salisbury Area

5.1 As reported above the key issues in the Salisbury Area, as also identified in the WLP 'Key Issues' accompanying booklet are that:

Just 10% of household waste is recovered.
There is a serious deficiency of provision for household waste in Salisbury, following the closure of the former Wiltshire County Council landfill site at Thorny Down, with all such waste transported some distance to Compton Bassett. This practice is contrary to the Proximity Principle (Objective 2 listed above)
If recovery targets are met there will be enough landfill/landraise capacity to cater for industrial, commercial, construction and demolition waste in the Salisbury area over the Plan period
High levels of commercial and industrial waste are imported into the Plan Area (62%).

6.0 Key Options for the Salisbury Area

6.1 Following the identification of the above issues the WLP suggests the following options for Salisbury area:

6.2 Provision of a Strategic Facility

It is suggested that a more sustainable solution for the management of household waste would be to establish a facility within the Salisbury area. In order to reduce the reliance on landfill/landraise the WPL advocates an 'Integrated Waste Management Facility', in an appropriate location, within the Salisbury area.

6.3 Such a facility would be expected to focus on a combination of more sustainable methods of managing waste that may include recycling, composting and energy recovery. It is reported that even with high levels of recycling and recovery there is still likely to be residual waste requiring disposal. Some additional landfill capacity may therefore be necessary to cater for this waste although this should not be the dominant element of any facility provided.

Recommendation 5:

SDC accepts the principle of a Strategic Facility for household waste in the Salisbury area.

6.4 The A36 corridor between Alderbury & Newton is identified as an 'Area of Search' for this 'Integrated Household Waste Management Facility'. Refer to 'Plan One' as attached. Unlike a 'Preferred Area', the 'Area of Search' covers a broader area within which there may be a number of potential locations. Following detailed consideration (outlined in Appendix 2 of the WLP and summarised in 'Table One' attached to this report) this 'Area of Search' along the A36 is considered by the WLP to have the best potential as it avoids major designated areas and has good road access to Salisbury on the A36 that generally avoids the District's settlements.

The WLP identifies that further detailed work will clearly be required to investigate this area. However, as Members are aware the development of a Waste Management Facility in the identified 'Area of Search' could have serious landscape and traffic implications:

Some of the identified 'Area' covers Pepperbox Hill, which is prominent within landscape of this area. The proposed development will require significant screening in order to mitigate its impact on the surrounding landscape.
Part of the identified 'Area' covers The New Forest Heritage Area, which the Government intends to designate as a National Park. Part of this designation process will involve a boundary review. Although unknown at this time, there is potential that the boundary may be different to that of the existing New Forest Heritage Area. The inclusion of a Waste Management Facility would clearly conflict with the aims of any National Park status.
The identified 'Area' takes in the village of West Grimstead, which already suffers from a poor highway network. The problems experienced by this network may be exacerbated by an increase in vehicle movements created by the siting of the Waste Management Facility in this location.
The A36 route corridor to the east of Salisbury currently experiences bottle-necks.

Recommendations 6:

SDC has serious concerns about the proximity of the proposed Integrated Household Waste Management Facility to the New Forest Heritage Area.

Recommendation 7:

SDC seeks additional investigation on alternative locations and further justification for the decision to promote, albeit at an early stage, the A36 (South of Salisbury) route corridor for this 'Area of Search'.

6.6 Provision of a Local Facility

The WLP acknowledges that in order to increase levels of recycling of household waste there needs to be a larger network of Household Recycling Centres (HRCs) where the public can bring a wide range of wastes including bulkier items for recycling. It is suggested that these facilities should be located close to, or within, urban areas in order to meet with the proximity principle and help reduce the need for people to travel long distances to reach recycling facilities. HRCs usually consist of bins and containers where the public can deposit various waste (sometimes within a covered area or building) together with areas for parking cars. Such sites can have significant impacts associated with large numbers of vehicles visiting the site, which can create traffic problems. The location of such facilities, therefore, needs to strike a balance between being close to a suitable highway network and close to urban centres for easy access by the public.

6.7 It has been identified that, subject to local circumstances, such facilities are most likely to be appropriate in the following types of areas:

Existing industrial estates;
Areas allocated for industrial/employment use in Local Plans;
Previously developed land or buildings (ie. derelict/vacant land);
Existing waste management sites including landfill/landraise.

6.8 The WLP identifies the Salisbury Area as deficient in adequate household recycling facilities and identifies the London Road Depot, Amesbury as a 'Preferred Area'. Refer to 'Plan Two' as attached. An application (S/1999/0860) for an HRC was recently submitted on this land and was considered by the Northern Area Committee on 1^st July 1999. At this Committee it was resolved that Salisbury District Council strongly objects to the application because of the loss of residential amenity (contrary to Objective 5 listed above), the increase in heavy vehicle movements and because of the possible conflict with the proper operation of the ambulance station. It was also felt that while the value of establishing a recycling centre in the Amesbury area to serve the local population was acknowledged, concern was expressed that other possibly less objectionable sites had not been properly considered.

Recommendation 8: (for Planning Committee)

SDC supports the principle of a Household Recycling Centre in the Amesbury/Tidworth area.

Recommendations 9: (for Planning Committee)

SDC objects to the identification of the London Road Depot, Amesbury as a 'Preferred Area' for the reasons outlined in this report.

Recommendation 10: (for Planning Committee)

SDC requests that the Waste Planning Authorities explore other sites for an HRC, including the possibility of developing part of the Replacement Local Plan employment allocation E8A ('Folly Bottom') to the east of Porton Road, Amesbury.

6.9 Provision of Neighbourhood Facilities (ie. bottle banks etc.)

The WLP proposes that provision within all new development throughout the Plan Catchment Area should be implemented where feasible.

Recommendation 11:

SDC supports the introduction of new neighbourhood facilities, where circumstances permit.

7.0 Next Steps

7.1 Following consideration of the comments received, a draft of the WLP will be produced and placed 'on deposit' for further comment and consideration. Should objections to the deposit Plan be received a public local inquiry will be held to consider any objections which could not be resolved. Following any inquiry proposed modifications to the Plan would be published and comments invited. The Plan would then be adopted. It is anticipated that the WLP will be adopted in late 2002 or early 2003.

Summary of Recommendations

8.1 It is recommended that the following representations, as set out above, are endorsed:

Salisbury District Council:

Send a copy of this report, and the Minutes from this Committee Meeting and that of the Planning Committee to Wiltshire County Council, as Salisbury District Council's formal response to the WLP.
Considers that high levels of imports are unsustainable, and request further investigation into reducing commercial and industrial waste imports from Hampshire.
Considers that, just as high levels of commercial and industrial waste imports are unsustainable, the continued transfer of household waste Compton to Bassett is not sustainable.
Supports the six broad objectives of the WLP and their commitment to regional sustainability, the 'proximity principle', reducing the plan area's reliance on landfill and landraise, safeguarding the environment, protecting the amenities of local people who live close to waste facilities and the restoration and after-use of affected sites.
Accepts the principle of a Strategic Facility for household waste in the Salisbury area.
Has serious concerns about the proximity of the proposed Integrated Household Waste Management Facility to the New Forest Heritage Area, which has recently been awarded National Park status, and whose boundary may alter as a result.
Seeks additional investigation on alternatives locations and further justification for the decision to promote the A36 (South of Salisbury) route corridor for the 'Area of Search'.
Supports the principle of a Household Recycling Centre in the Amesbury/Tidworth area. (for Planning Committee)
Objects to the identification of the London Road Depot, Amesbury as a 'Preferred Area' for the reasons outlined in this report. (for Planning Committee)
Requests that the Waste Planning Authorities explore other sites for an HRC, including the possibility of developing part of the Replacement Local Plan employment allocation E8A ('Folly Bottom') to the east of Porton Road, Amesbury. (for Planning Committee)
Supports the introduction of new neighbourhood facilities, where circumstances permit.

Financial Implications : None

Legal Implications : None

Personnel Implications : None

Community Safety Implications : None

Environmental Implications : Addressed in the report

Core Values : Thriving economy, Fairness and equality, Communicating with the public & Protecting the environment

TABLE ONE : Summary of main road corridors within the Salisbury Area

Road Corridor	Stage 1 Constraints (International/National)	Stage 2 Constraints (Local Importance)	Road Access to Salisbury
A36 (North of Salisbury)	Part within Cranborne Chase & West Wiltshire Downs AONB	Part within Special Landscape Area. All within Areas of Archaeological Significance. Areas of High Ecological Value (River Wylye)	Passes through residential areas for some distance and also several villages.
A36 (South of Salisbury)	Part within New Forest Heritage Area (South of Whiteparish)	All within Special Landscape Area. Part within Areas of Archaeological Significance. Areas of High Ecological Value (Pepperbox Hill, New Forest)	Generally avoids villages
A345		Part within Special Landscape Area. All within Areas of Archaeological Significance. Part within Water Source Catchment Area. Boscombe Down	Passes through Amesbury and other villages further north.
A338 (North of Salisbury)	Close to Special Protection Area/SSSI	All within Special Landscape Area. All within Areas of Archaeological Significance. Part within Water Source Catchment Area. Close to Boscombe Down Airfield	Passes through large number of small villages
A338 (South of Salisbury)	Part within Cranborne Chase & West Wiltshire Downs AONB. Part is High Grade agricultural land	Part within Special Landscape Area. All within Areas of Archaeological Significance.	Generally avoids villages
A30	Close to Special Protection Area/SSSI	All within Special Landscape Area. All within Areas of Archaeological Significance. Part within Water Source Catchment Area.	Generally avoids villages
A354	All within Cranborne Chase & West Wiltshire Downs AONB. Sites of Special Scientific Interest	Part within Special Landscape Area. All within Areas of Archaeological Significance. Part within Water Source Catchment Area.	Passes through Coombe Bissett Village.