A site meeting between South Petherwin Parish Councillors and Cllr Adam Paynter, Cornwall Coun­cil's Executive Member for Environment and Heritage was recently convened at Bangors Tip (recycling centre), Launceston.

South Petherwin Parish Council had requested a site meeting in the autumn with Cllr Paynter in order to discuss the changes planned for the site adjacent to Bangors Tip, that being the last phase of Pennygillam Industrial Estate. It is proposed to relocate the recycling centre to the industrial estate.

South Petherwin Parish Council Chairman, Phil Parsons set out the reasons for the meeting. It was felt that the present recycling centre site should be joined with the new industrial site before any building planning applications are made. Between the two sites is a small valley with a water culvert, which, it was suggested, could be in filled. This would make best use of the two sites.

The new industrial site is a number of feet above the present civic amenity site. Councillors felt that if a recycling centre site was to be developed on the 'new Pennygillam extension', then Bangors Tip would make an ideal split level site, allowing the public to drop waste into the waste containers instead of lifting the waste into them.

Cllr Parsons commented: "It is the opinion of the parish council that to make the best use of the existing Bangors Tip site it should be connected to the Penny­gillam extension, which would mean best use of tax payers' land and money."

Cllr Paynter suggested that the meeting should be moved to the new Pennygillam Industrial Estate extension and view the proposed SITA Waste Transfer Station and new recycling centre.

Gareth Phillips, SITA Planning Manager, presented the new plans for the proposed waste transfer site, explaining the benefits for the area. However, a number of councillors pointed out that there were no plans to connect and make 'best use' of the present site.

Cllr Paynter, Chris Maltbaek (county contract manager) and Ian Thomson (county deputy contract manager), considered that it was too late as planning and development was well underway. There were also issues that Bangors Tip was a contaminated site and dealing with the Environ­ment Agency's concerns may prove insurmountable.

Councillors still pressed their views, adding that Bangors Tip could fulfil the role of a re-sale centre, recycling items such as bikes.

There was no clear resolution to the proposals, but the county representatives would clarify issues between themselves and the former NCDC concerning this development.

SITA communications officer, Grace Williams, and Gareth Philips, planning manager, were pleased with the feedback by South Petherwin Parish Council to the proposed plans for the new Waste Transfer Station.

The council aired their concerns on the size and colour of the building, its impact on the landscape and screening from nearby residential dwellings, especially the proximity of the proposed development to Daws House.

It was suggested that a small liaison group be set up including councillors and parishioners to bring forward any issues for SITA's notice.