Sarah Champion MP Calls for New Rules to Protect Residents from Unwelcome Landfill Sites

Sarah Champion, Member of Parliament for Rotherham expressed frustration that her amendment to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which aimed to prevent unscrupulous developers from exploiting loopholes in planning legislation to by-pass scrutiny for landfill sites, was not selected for Parliamentary vote.

Sarah had tabled an amendment that would cause un-utilised planning permission for landfill sites to lapse should the site be dormant for more than 10 years.

The amendment came in response to Droppingwell Tip, in her constituency. The landfill was granted an environmental permit variation by the Environment Agency to resume tipping operations in 2016, subject to fulfilment of environmental conditions. The site had been dormant since a residents’ campaign led to its closure in the 1990s. However, planning permission, initially granted in the 1950s, remained in force. As such, no public consultation has taken place and issues including the impact on neighbouring properties, traffic and noise have not been subject to scrutiny.

While the Environment Agency could have conducted a public consultation, they declined to do so and failed to notify residents, local councillors, the local authority or Sarah of the application in advance of their decision.  

Speaking in Parliament, Sarah said:

“It cannot be right that landfill operators can so easily evade public scrutiny simply by reopening long-dormant sites. It can’t be right that my constituents’ views have been totally ignored.’

‘This amendment, while too late to help Rotherham, would prevent the rights of other communities from being so flagrantly trampled by ensuring that planning permission for landfill sites automatically lapses after 10 years.”

Sarah commented:

 “I have consistently called for the reopening of Droppingwell Tip to be stopped, and I will continue to do so. But at every turn, I have been met by indifference from the Environment Agency and from DEFRA.’

 ‘It is deeply disappointing that my amendment was not selected. It would have greatly strengthened protections for communities from this kind of unwelcome, exploitative development.’

‘However, I will keep fighting, both to ensure planning laws are fit for purpose and to stop Droppingwell Tip.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Sarah’s full speech is available here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jODqgVaV-yE