Lockhams Recycling waste application blocked by council

Hampshire County Council rejected Lockhams Recycling’s second retrospective application to store recycled materials at the Shedfield Equestrian Centre, which has been operating without permission for the last years.

The company had applied to change the use of a hardstanding area to a store for recycled aggregate materials, which was refused by the county council’s regulatory committee on Wednesday (July 9).

In 2015, a successful appeal against the county council enabled the firm to process 46,000 cubic metres.

However, that only allows the business to store recycled inert material on the land to the west of the application site, which has joint access.

Since 2018, the company has expanded the storage area without planning permission.

In January 2024, the first retrospective application was refused. The chairman of the committee, Cllr Peter Latham, said that over the past 12 years, the site had changed from a rural area to an industrialised site without permission.

At the time, the application was refused due to the need for a development like this in the countryside, the visual impact, and concerns about drainage.

Months later, in October, a fresh application reached the committee but was deferred to allow additional information.

At the meeting, Joanne Harvey, a resident of Shedfield, said that her life and the lives of her neighbours have been “invaded” by what she described as “the noisy, unregulated industrial site.”

Ms Harvey said: “This is about the accumulated damage caused by this business built on agricultural land in the heart of a rural community.”

She added that since the company increased operations at the site, her daughter has suffered frequent unexplained headaches.

She says her family is not the only one suffering the impacts, adding that the most vulnerable members of the community have also experienced increased levels of stress due to these activities.

“Expanding this operation means choosing industrial profit over public health and rural community safety.

“The whole site is nothing but enforcement breaches.

“Approving this application will legitimise years of unauthorised use and send the message that enforcement and community voices don’t matter. It causes harm that cannot be reversed by mitigations.”

“We are not anti-business, and we are not unreasonable, but we are tired of being dismissed.”

Winchester City Council councillor Vivian Achwal also said that experts confirmed to her that the dust from the site affects the horses at the equestrian centre, their airways, and their health.

“Even residents are unable to enjoy their garden due to the constant noise and dust”, she said.

Lockhams Recycling was not present at the meeting.

Members debated that by refusing the application, the council would lose the opportunity to take control over the site and may risk losing an appeal.

Cllr Bill Withers: “I feel this is a very difficult decision to make. My concerns about residents’ health are very important. But if we disclaim this recommendation, where do the residents sit? I sort of sit on a fence, because I feel totally in support of the residents, but legally, if this goes to appeal, would we win?”

Cllr David Harrison said that although the decision was challenging, everyone agrees the council have dealt with a “very irresponsible company that doesn’t adhere to the rules.”

Nine councillors voted against the officers’ recommendation to give temporary permission to the company.

Following the refusal, Ms Harvey said she was “delighted” with the decision.

“This is a strong message from the community to them. They have done whatever they like at the site. It’s shocking what happens there. But we are grateful.”