The expansion of an Angus landfill site to take ash waste from Dundee’s DERL incinerator has been given the go-ahead in the face of opposition from two local community councils.
Angus development standards committee members unanimously approved the bid by Carnoustie firm DJ Laing for the extension to the existing Petterden waste management and recycling site, east of the A90 Dundee to Aberdeen dual carriageway.
Under the plan, the operation will extend eastwards by almost two hectares and involve agricultural land being built up by around seven metres on part of the sloping site to create a flat storage area for the material from the city plant.
Councillors heard a bund will also be formed at the site’s southern edge and planted to integrate the expansion into the landscape.
An official planning report said: “This is a long-established landfill and recycling/waste transfer station. It has a lengthy planning history that pre-dates local government reorganisation in 1996.”
>> Keep up to date with the latest news with The Courier newsletter
Permission granted in 2003 limited the overall number of vehicle movements to the site to 400 per day – 200 in and 200 out – but the applicants indicated the site is currently operating at less than half that number and the new proposal will not result in any significant increase.
Both Tealing Community Council and their Murroes and Wellbank neighbours submitted objections to the proposal, centred around concerns over the type of material coming to the site, traffic issues and environmental impact.
In their letter of objection, Murroes and Wellbank said: “We as a community council are a firm believer of re‐use, recycle and reduce where possible and are well aware of the government’s commitment to minimise waste across Scotland.
“However the community council is concerned about the impact of hazardous (special) waste from facilities generating energy from waste, and the impact on the local area and the people living close to facilities disposing and or re‐processing the hazardous (special) waste/incinerated bottom ash.”
The committee was assured by planning officials that the DERL material is a non-hazardous aggregate-type material.
In their report recommendation approval, planning chiefs added: “The concerns raised in relation to the proposal by local community councils have been taken into account and are addressed by the proposed conditions.
“The proposal complies with the development plan and there are no material considerations that justify refusal of planning permission.”
Conditions attached to the approval include controls over noise levels, hours of operation, dust containment and a scheme for eventual restoration of the site.
