Salford City Council today refused compost manufacturer William Sinclair’s application to extend their expired permission, with regard to peat extraction on Chat Moss in Greater Manchester.
Prior to the decision being made; Salford City Council’s Lead for Planning, Cllr Derek Antrobus, had said: “As far as we know, this is the first time an application for peat extraction will be considered on grounds of principle rather than the impact on neighbours” and “If permission is refused I expect there to be an appeal which will be an important test case for the Government on the strength of its environmental policies.” – so it all now depends on just how far William Sinclair are prepared to take things.
It is of course also the case that the planning refusal only covers the portion of the site within Salford; the other part is in Wigan, where a decision is yet to be reached.
Further information is available on the ‘Organic In The Garden’ forum: here
Update 6 July 2011:
As widely expected; a formal appeal has been lodged against Salford Council’s decision.
