A controversial waste management site in Macclesfield will not go ahead.

In a shocking twist after last week's recommendation by independent planning officers workers, a rejection of the plans was decided on Wednesday.

Hurdsfield residents applauded as Cheshire East took the 'common sense' approach and turned down an application to site a waste recycling centre in the middle of a residential area.

1st Choice Waste & Metals Ltd had applied for permission to site the centre at Withyfold Drive, Macclesfield for three years on a premises previously used by a vehicle recovery firm.

Planning officers, who in June had recommended the scheme be refused, had this time recommended councillors approve it after the applicant offered to reduce the number of HGV vehicle movements from 70 a day to 50.

But members of the council's strategic planning board narrowly refused the application by six votes to five at Wednesday's meeting, on the grounds the HGV traffic could adversely impact on the amenity of local residents in terms of noise and disruption.

Hurdsfield Ward councillor Steve Carter (Lab), speaking as a visiting member, told the meeting: "I have never seen a more inappropriate development."

He said there had initially been more than 440 objections to the application from residents 'whose lives will be blighted by this tip' and a further 130 objections to the proposed transport plan.

1st Choice Waste & Metals Ltd – referred to as Henshaws throughout the meeting – wanted to relocate a large proportion of its existing waste management business from Moss Lane, together with the associated 40 jobs.

The meeting was told the site would deal with dry waste materials.

Cllr Carter said: "The current South Macclesfield site smells badly and has been a blight on the community that has built up around it.

"This new site will be the same and I am stunned that an environmental health expert has suggested that contamination smell will end at the fence line."

He said the site is at the end of a residential cul-de-sac and access is through residential streets.

"Streets where children play, streets where children walk to school to face 12 wheeled vehicles driving along pavements. The dangers to residents are simply intolerable."

Cllr David Edwardes (Macclesfield Tytherington, Ind), speaking as a visiting councillor, said: "The whole thing, quite honestly, appears to be absolutely bonkers to me."

He said the previous business on the site had used access roads which are now not available to the applicant.

Objector Martin Raymond said the vehicle recovery business had relocated 12 years ago because the Withyfold site couldn't sustain it as it grew.

"It was unworkable to run higher volumes of traffic on residential roads, precisely what Henshaws are proposing to do."

He added: "Note that the applicant chose to sell off most of their existing site for housing, so the circumstance is entirely of their own making."

Applicant agent Richard Sims said the applicant had reduced the HGV movements by 10 a day.

He said: "This will naturally result in a necessary reduction of the applicant's business to accommodate this change, however this is a small concession when faced with the very real prospect of ceasing trading altogether and making the entire workforce redundant should the application be refused."

Planning officer David Malcolm said because the site already had permission for vehicles to use the poor access and the residential streets, 'highways are in the unenviable position of saying it's difficult for us to object to this'.

He said: "The common sense thing is to refuse this application. It's an inappropriate site, it's not acceptable because of the access arrangements. But the reality is, if this is tested at appeal, then there is that difficult position to say, well actually this site can be accessed 24/7 by any number of vehicles if they wanted to and that's the position we have to battle with."

Cllr Steve Edgar (Haslington, Con) said he would make a common sense decision.

"I just cannot envisage myself allowing HGVs to go through a residential area unless it's for access only," he said.

Anthony Critchley (Crewe Central, Lab): "Cllr Edgar has nailed it, talking about the common sense approach which is clearly needed."

Cllr Brian Puddicombe (Macclesfield South, Lab) moved the application be refused and this was seconded by Cllr Mike Hunter.

The application was refused, six to five.

It ends almost four years of uncertainty for Hurdsfield residents, who objected in the hundreds.

Macclesfield Nub News has contacted Henshaws, of 150 Moss Lane, for comment.

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