National Trust

In association with
The National Trust

Dismay as Seghill tip expansion set for approval

Jul 23 2008 by Dave Black, The Journal

Residents of Seghill braving the rain to register their opposition when the tip expansion bid was first mooted in 2005

PLANS to expand a 50-year-old rubbish tip have been earmarked for approval. Campaigners last night spoke of their dismay at the decision for Seghill landfill site.

If approved, the life of the site would be extended by 15 years and mean another 4.2m tonnes of waste could be dealt with.

Supporters of the No To Landfill campaign have waged a three-year battle against the bid.

Thousands of local people have signed petitions opposing the Sita UK scheme, claiming the expansion will swallow up protected green belt land, harm wildlife and the local landscape, affect public rights of way and cause noise, dust and odours.

Now the campaign has received a major setback after planning officers at Northumberland County Council gave their backing to the scheme, which was first submitted in June 2005.

Next week members of the planning and regulation committee will be recommended to approve the Sita UK application, despite protest petitions signed by more than 5,000 people and 556 letters of objection.

It is also opposed by the Campaign to Protect Rural England, the Bridleways and Riders Action Group and Blyth Valley Borough Council.

Sita UK has had to apply for permission to both Northumberland County Council and North Tyneside Council, as the Seghill site is on the boundary between the two areas.

Yesterday No To Landfill chairman Lindsay Perks, a retired systems analyst of Whitley Bay, said: “We are not terribly surprised by the county council recommendation, but are disappointed nonetheless. The final decision rests with the councillors, so we can’t really tell what will happen.

“Our main message is that enough is enough. The residents of the surrounding communities have put up with landfill for 50 years, and the associated problems of litter, vermin, smells and traffic, and thought it was coming to an end. Now it could go on for another 50 years.

“We don’t need more landfill capacity, we need less. Why should Seghill be the dustbin for all Tyneside’s waste?”

A report to Tuesday’s meeting of the county council planning committee says permission should be granted for the Seghill expansion because consultants commissioned by the two neighbouring authorities have concluded there is a need for additional landfill capacity in the area.

Officers say noise, dust and odour can be controlled by planning conditions, there is no evidence of any risk to public health and the tipping operations will be contained behind landscaped banks, mitigating any visual impact problems.

Landfill site opened in 1956

MUNICIPAL, industrial and commercial waste from Northumberland, North Tyneside and Newcastle has been sent to the 125-acre Seghill landfill site since 1956.

Sita UK’s planning permission to continue tipping there ends next year. The company’s decision to seek an extension until 2022 sparked the launch of the No To Landfill campaign, which represents people in Seghill, Seaton Delaval, Holywell, Backworth and Earsdon.

The company says landfill will remain a key part of the region’s waste management mix for many years to come, despite the growing drive to recycle. It says new landfill capacity is needed and Seghill is the best placed site to meet these needs.

Its planning application includes a new, 1.3km access road from the B1322 Backworth Lane, which aims to halve the number of waste lorries travelling through Seghill.