PROTESTERS are claiming a major victory after plans for a concrete crusher have been withdrawn.
Waste Recycling Group pulled their planning application to build the recycling facility on the St John s Colliery site after hundreds of objections from
residents and councillors were sent to the council.
President of pressure group RATS, Paul Dainton, said: "This is a vote for democracy, we believe over a thousand individuals have written to complain about the application.
"Something like a concrete crusher should be mobile and be transferred between building sites rather than permanently affecting on group of people. I am delighted that it has been withdrawn but we should be watching out to make sure they don t try and sneak it in the back door."
At last month s Town Council meeting, councillors voted unanimously to oppose the plans and Coun Barry Smith was also pleased with the announcement. He said: "At the neighbourhood listening day last wee I had a lot of people complaining about the effect the crusher would have on the area and I think the town council who voted to oppose the application will be especially pleased with the news."
Two public meetings have been called and hundreds of angry residents mobilised to fight the plans but many are worried that their victory will be short lived.
Barbara Joddrell, who raised her objections at last week s Welbeck Liaison Committee said: "I fear they are now going to try and get the application approved within the Welbeck site where it will still pose environmental problems in terms of dust created and the increase of traffic on the roads.The fact that they ve withdrawn this application is good news but I m still nervous about what they will do next."
Waste Recycling Group said: "Following discussions with Wakefield Council and having been made aware of public concerns about the proposed facility s proximity to local housing, the Company has decided to reassess the application and consider other locations in the vicinity of the Welbeck landfill site. A new application will be submitted in due course."
