Issue - meetings

Report by the Director for Planning & Place (PN6).

This application seeks to amend condition 2(restricting importation of waste from elsewhere) of the existing planning permission for a Waste Encapsulation and Tratment Plant. The application is being reported to this Committee as objection have been received from East Hendred and Chilton Parish Councils. The report describes the planning proposal and outlines the consultation replies and objections to the application. Relevant planning policies are included along with the comments and recommendation of the Director for Planning and Place on the proposal.

It is RECOMMENDED that application no. MW.0036/16 be approved subject to conditions to be determined by the Director of Planning & Place including the matters set out in Annex 2 to the report PN6.

Approved.

The Committee considered (PN6) an application amending condition 2 (restricting importation of waste from elsewhere) of the existing planning permission for a Waste Encapsulation and Treatment Plant at Harwell following objections from the East Hendred and Chilton Parish Councils.

Introducing the report Mr Broughton advised that East Hendred Parish Council had notified him that morning that although it was not prepared to withdraw its original objection it was, however, prepared to agree to a small-scale movement of waste from Winfrith for encapsulation at Harwell as described in the revised application.

Responding to questions from:

Councillor Fox-Davies – he confirmed this would, if granted, be a separate permission to the box store.  The fact that the site at Winfrith had been unable to meet its own needs for encapsulation and interim storage of ILW meant that proposed importation was in accord with OMWCS policy W9 and therefore consistent with national strategy for radioactive waste management.  The material would be transported under strict UKAEA regulations.

Councillor Mathew – he confirmed this would be a one-off change to deal with this waste from Winfrith for a limited amount of time. Any further additional proposals would require a new application.

Councillor Johnston confirmed that currently no permanent repository existed for this type of waste but as there were strict guidelines governing transportation he was happy to support the application.

Councillor Sanders expressed some concern regarding the A34 as a proposed route because of the potential for traffic problems frequently encountered on that road but had to assume that when preparing this application the relevant authorities would have taken that into account.

RESOLVED: (on a motion by Councillor Reynolds, seconded by Councillor Johnston and carried by 10 votes to 1) that application no. MW.0036/16 be approved subject to conditions to be determined by the Director for Planning & Place including the matters set out in Annex 2 to the report PN6.