Parish councils will have final say over tip extensions

2.32.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 16th Jun 2008

Falmouth and Camborne MP Julia Goldsworthy has met with representatives from SITA and Cornwall County Council to discuss the option of extending the lifespan of United Mines tip by two years.

Local parish councils had been contacted to discuss the possibility, but in Friday's meeting it was made clear that their views would be the final word on whether the closure of the site would be delayed. All the councils responding so far have indicated that they wish the landfill to close according to the original timetable - in 2010.

With 400,000 cubic meters of capacity remaining, delaying closure by 2 years would have allowed this space to be filled, and would have saved £1 million in transport costs to take that waste to the alternative landfill site in Liskeard. These savings would then have been passed on and spent by the local communities in the vicinity of the site.

If the closure goes ahead according to timetable, the site will need to be re-landscaped to accommodate the spare capacity. This variation will also have to go through the normal planning process.

Commenting, Julia Goldsworthy said:

"It's absolutely right that the parish councils were the first port of call on deciding any changes to the future of the landfill site at United Mines. As the original letter to the parishes made clear: 'No pressure whatsoever will be placed upon the parish councils or the community…to accept this proposal'. Those who have claimed the matter was secretly being progressed have added nothing to the discussion apart from scaremongering."

"My approach has always been straightforward: no extension to the life of the tip should go ahead unless it has public support. The initial response from the parish councils expresses a clear preference for the site to close according to the original plan - as has always been the case, the views of the parishes will be the final say on the matter."