Waste plan ‘It’s constant’, says nursery facing planning battle
ABELEAGUERED nursery school in east Bristol is fighting plans for a rubbish dump right across the road in its third David and Goliath battle in four years.
St Philip’s Marsh Nursery in St Philip’s is already less than half a mile from a large council tip, and since 2016 has fought off two bids by power companies wanting to build power plants near the site.
Now Grundon Waste Management Limited has applied to Bristol City Council for permission to build a waste transfer station directly opposite the nursery, at the former headquarters of Gulliver’s Truck Hire on Albert Crescent.
The tip would be used to store up to 50,000 tonnes of commercial and industrial waste from local businesses each year before it is hauled elsewhere for processing or recycling, according to planning documents.
It would be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and see more than 100 lorry trips each day in and out.
Headteacher Simon Holmes has objected to the application on behalf of St Philip’s Marsh Nursery, citing fears that a tip will “worsen environmental conditions including air quality, noise, smell and danger from traffic”.
He told the Post he was worried the tip could bring flies, seagulls and rats and he was fed up with companies trying to use St Philip’s as a “dumping ground”.
“We feel just permanently beleaguered, here,” he said.
“It’s just constant. It just seems to be a constant battle.
“We were promised more sociable housing, better green spaces, more play areas, transport, all part of this Temple Quarter development, and what do we actually get? A rubbish tip.
“On the back of having to fight in the last four years of having to fight against a gaspowered generator and a diesel-powered generator.
“Do we really want another massive rubbish tip in the centre of the city, opposite a nursery school, next to the fruit market, in an area that is up for regeneration and redevelopment?
“Looking at the experience people have had in Avonmouth with flies, seagulls, rats, all of those things which are a problem down here already.
“Is this really actually an area for redevelopment for the people in this area or is it just a dumping ground?”
The nursery has so far escaped having two power plants built nearby, after the council rejected Conrad Energy’s plans for a gas-fired electricity plant last year and Plutus Energy’s proposals for 48 bio-diesel generators in 2016.
The school had residents, environmentalists and MPs on its side in both cases, and Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees and his Labour administration came out publicly against Conrad Energy’s proposals, saying the plans conflicted with their aspirations for Bristol.
It remains to be seen whether the nursery will get similar backing this time, but, as of Monday there were 26 objections to Grundon’s plans for the tip, including one from the Environment Agency.
Seven comments have been lodged in support of the application.
Grundon was unable to supply a comment in time to meet our publication deadline, but its planning application says the waste transfer station would create a minimum of six to eight jobs.
“The company actively seeks to minimise the effects of its operations on the environment and local communities and works with local groups to reflect their role as a local employer and part of the community,” the application said.
Grundon’s proposals would see a waste transfer station, including a trailer shelter, a weighbridge and weighbridge office on 0.62ha of land at Swift House, Albert Crescent. The transfer station would take up more than 1 sq km and stand up to 12m high, according to planning documents.
We were promised more sociable housing, better green spaces, more play areas, transport... and what do we actually get? A rubbish tip Headteacher Simon Holmes