A MASSIVE landfill and recycling site could be built at a Flintshire quarry.
However, people who are against the plan say the area could be “blighted for generations” if the application by Brock for Pinfold Lane Quarry, Alltami, is approved.
County planners will visit the site before voting on whether to give plans the go-ahead at a special meeting on Wednesday.
Buckley Mountain councillor Carol Ellis, who represents the area affected by the development, said: “Residents maintain there will be considerable impact in relation to dust, noise, odour and vehicle emissions.
“They maintain the area will be blighted for generations and they remain unconvinced day-to-day life will be little affected by these proposals.”
The integrated waste management site would include a construction waste recycling facility, a non-hazardous landfill with a 1.6 million cubic metre capacity and a contaminated soils treatment facility. Plans also include energy generation from landfill gas.
Buckley and Northop Hall councils have raised concerns as have the Environment Agency Wales and Ramblers’ Association.
But planning officers have recommended approval subject to more than 50 conditions.
An application for a landfill site at nearby Parry’s Quarry was granted by a planning inquiry after being refused by Flintshire Council’s planning committee, but an operational permit application to the Environment Agency has yet to be granted and the site is not yet operational.
A spokesman for Robin Jones & Sons, the firm behind the aplication, said: “A permit application has been submitted and the site is programmed to be open within 18 months.
“The Brock application does not consider the massive reduction in the amount of residual waste required to be consigned to landfill in the region as a result of the Flintshire Council-led North Wales Residual Waste Treatment Project within a 20-mile radius of the proposed new landfill.
“Only one facility is required – Parry’s Quarry Landfill fulfils this requirement, has planning permission and is currently being developed to satisfy the requirement.”
But a spokesman for Brock said: “Brock has co-operated with Flintshire Council and its planning department for a number of years to bring this planning application forward. Initial public consultation took place to include the application site in the UDP for waste management uses and the land was subsequently allocated in the UDP for these purposes.
“This means the land in terms of planning policy is preferred and any planning application would normally be approved for waste management uses.
“A planning application has been with the planning authority for a number of years and during this time any planning issues of concern to local councillors and planning officers have been addressed. Officers recommended approval of the application in 2009 but it was deferred with councillors requesting more information which has been provided.
“The merit of the application has been explored in detail with officers and Brock PLC is pleased its application is supported by the planning department at Flintshire Council.”