People power wins with recycling plant refusal
‘PICTURESQUE’ VILLAGE NOT THE RIGHT PLACE - MP
PLANS to reopen a waste recycling plant at Shawell Quarry near Lutterworth have been refused.
The proposal to reopen the Cotesbach Mechanical Biological Treatment facility at Shawell Quarry, which has been shut since 2016, with the aim of processing 150,000 tonnes of household, commercial and industrial rubbish a year, was opposed by villagers.
They said it would cause a huge increase of lorries on roads such as the A5 and A426, which already get a fair share of HGVs.
There were also concerns the processes being proposed, which involved the heating of plastics, would not be environmentally friendly.
The nearest homes to the facility are in Shawell village, less than 500 metres from the complex.
Alberto Costa, MP for South Leicestershire, wrote to the county council to object to the proposals on behalf of villagers.
He said: “This is a most welcome decision from Leicestershire County Council and a real win for local people who had been deeply opposed to the plans for the new recycling plant in Shawell.
“I was pleased to raise the views of my constituents with the Prime Minister directly earlier this year and with the Environment Minister, Rebecca Pow, in order to convey the strength of feeling here.
“I would like to sincerely thank both the district and county councillors for their work, and of course my constituents in Shawell and the village’s parish council, who have been working tirelessly to oppose these plans from the very beginning.”
Jonathan Bateman, Harborough district councillor for Misterton ward, said: “It has been fantastic to see such community engagement in opposing these plans which would have blighted the villages in Misterton ward.”
Mr Costa said that while recycling is hugely important and that we should do all we can to support the environment and reduce our carbon footprint, the location of new recycling sites is “critically important”.
“A small, picturesque village in rural Leicestershire is not the ideal place for rubbish to be transported from various parts of the country,” he said.
“My constituents were understandably alarmed at the impact of so many HGVs coming into the area and the resulting impact on air quality, so I am delighted their voices have been heard and the right decision reached.”