Firm appeals over plant expanion plan

A LIQUID waste firm has launched two appeals against decisions which have so far prevented it expanding its plant in north Norfolk.

HFS wants to use the site at Spa Common, on the edge of North Walsham, as a transfer station for non-hazardous liquids.

In October a planning application was rejected by Norfolk County Council over highway safety fears and a lack of information about potential risk of pollution.

The company believes those worries are unfounded and has challenged the decision.

But that appeal may not be necessary if a second one over an application for a certificate of lawful use, which the county council originally failed to determine in time, goes through.

HFS spokesman Barry Munson said that would allow the company to use the site in the same way as previous owners Anglian Water. He added: "That would negate the need for the planning appeal."

In the past homeowners living near the plant raised concerns about large lorries travelling along their narrow rural roads and the nature of the waste which would be transported to and from the plant.

They were delighted when the planning application failed in

October and are now hopeful

the inspectors will also see the situation from their perspective.

Peter Bowles, of Spa Common, said: "The original application was turned down very largely on the grounds of the total inadequacy of the highway network leading to the site. Those considerations, whatever else they may do to try to convince the inspectors, are still going to be an overwhelming problem. Nothing can change them."

But Mr Munson said HFS had already agreed to reduce the number of lorry movements at the site and homeowners would not notice any change from the way the plant is run at the moment. He added: "We've been here since 2007 and up until this application came up, no-one knew we were here. The worries are based on misinformation."