Belmont Incinerator proposal refused by Planning Inspectorate

The Planning Inspectorate has dismissed Calder Valley Skip Hire’s appeal against the refusal of an Environmental Permit for a proposed Small Waste Incinerator at its Belmont site.

Although the Belmont incinerator has planning permission from Calderdale Council, it can’t operate without an Environmental Permit.

The Planning Inspectorate’s decision, made on 5th July 2023, says,

“the appeal is dismissed and the deemed refusal stands”.

The reasons for the dismissal are that the Inspector was not satisfied, on the evidence Calder Valley Skip Hire brought to the Appeal, that the height of the stack to discharge waste gases had been calculated in such a way as to safeguard human health and the environment.

This was an objection raised by the Benbow Group of local residents, who questioned the height of the proposed stack and the implications for the health of nearby residents.

The Planning Inspector’s decision notes,

“There is particular concern that the discharge height would be below the tops of nearby trees and at a lower level than Rochdale Road.”

The Planning Inspector’s decision adds,

“Furthermore, I am unable to find that the necessary measures have been taken to ensure that waste management would be carried out without endangering human health, without harming the environment and, in particular without risk to air, in compliance with Article 13 of the Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC.”

The Benbow Group, which has led Sowerby Bridge residents’ long campaign to stop the construction and operation of the Calder Valley Skip Hire incinerators at both the Belmont and Mearclough sites, describes itself as:

“A movement of local residents, a group of no members but many followers, who are concerned with the disregard for the health of our community and who respect the work of Sowerby Bridge Urban District Councillor Austin Benbow who led the way in the campaign for Clean Air in the town in the 1950’s.”

Local residents who would like to be kept informed can email the Benbow Group (thebenbowgroup@gmail.com), who will add their email address to the Group’s mailing list.

Apparently Calder Valley Skip Hire could now take the Planning Inspectorate to Judicial Review. To do this, they would have to prove the Inspector erred in law, or of course start again from the beginning, addressing the issue the Inspector has refused the Permit on. Hopefully this will not happen but who knows.

But at the end of the day it is good news and vindication by a higher authority, in this instance the Planning Inspectorate, that the Benbow Group’s objection to the development, and the reasons they have continued to state, are valid and of value.