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Protesters’ anger over waste recycling plant in Rushenden Road, Rushenden

Queenborough town councillors Janet Flew and Joy Christmas with Deputy Mayor Cllr Alan Phillips at the proposed site of a waste recycling plant in Rushenden Road
Queenborough town councillors Janet Flew and Joy Christmas with Deputy Mayor Cllr Alan Phillips at the proposed site of a waste recycling plant in Rushenden Road

Objections have been raised to an application for a demolition and construction waste recycling plant.

The proposal for land in Rushenden Road was submitted by Sheerness Recycling, which currently operates on the adjacent Klondyke Industrial Estate.

It is seeking to move its waste management operation to a vacant hard standing for a period of three years.

It would see 150,000 tonnes of rubble pass through the site per year for recycling.

The application also includes a temporary screen made of soil to limit the environmental impact of airborne dust, for the same time-frame.

Queenborough Town Council has issued a written objection to the proposal. The Mayor of Queenborough, Cllr Sue Simpson, said: “From our understanding it will mean lorries going through Queenborough again.

“It’s a huge concern. We are worried about the environmental problems the dust is going to cause on the site and the noise as well.”

Patrick Moore, of the Queenborough Society, similarly objected on the UK Planning website to the apparent planned routes for vehicles which mention Brielle Way and Main Road, Queenborough, but not the Rushenden Relief Road.

The road, also known as Thomsett Way and campaigned for over many years, was designed to take industrial traffic away from historic Queenborough.

Mr Moore said: “This route is totally unacceptable as it is the only route that children can take to school. It is already congested with traffic and parked vehicles. The route that should have been selected in the proposal is Thomsett Way.”

The Homes and Community Agency (HCA) says its plans to build up to 1,200 homes on land in Rushenden Road as part of its regeneration project, will not be affected by the plant.

A HCA spokesman said: “The planning application is to formalise the temporary use of the site by Sheerness Recycling, which has been carrying out operations there for several years.

“A break clause in the lease allows us to get possession of the site when needed and the tenants are aware of our development plans for the site, so the application will cause no interference to our proposed site preparation works.”

Queenborough Town Council fears the recycling plan could delay the regeneration plans and an application for permanent use may be issued in the future.

Sheerness Recycling declined to comment.

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