Recycling company's plans to park HGVs at quarry are refused

Crossley Evans, which until recently was based in Shipley, had applied for planning permission to park eight of its vehicles overnight at the Bolton Woods Quarry site.

Sections of the site are an active quarry, but the land has been earmarked for a development of 700 homes once work at the quarry ceases.

Crossley Evans had been based on the sidings next to Shipley Rail Station, but had to vacate the network Rail owned site due to plans for a £100m train depot in the town.

The application for the quarry site said the plan would allow the company’s vehicles to remain in the area – keeping jobs local.

It said: “The development proposals will promote economic growth in a sustainable manner by enabling the continuation of a successful local business, continued local employment and supporting local trades.

“Due to a change in circumstances HGVs can no longer use the parking facilities at their recycling site located at Station Sidings in Shipley.

“The granting of permission for this proposed development would allow for the continuation of the business which has been operational for over 100 years.”

Highways officers at Bradford Council raised several questions over the plans.

They noted that the application said the HGVs would be empty when they arrive at the quarry site.

The Bolton Woods quarry site earlier this week (Image: T&A)

Officers added: “Therefore, they are being unloaded elsewhere.

“No detail has been provided as to where this operation takes place and if this is the total number of vehicles involved (i.e. eight HGV’s).

“Also, no reason has been provided as to why the vehicles cannot park overnight in the place they are being unloaded. This would avoid any unnecessary trips.

“Also have other sites been considered and/or rejected for parking these vehicles?”

The plans have now been refused for three different reasons.

One reason for refusal was given as: “The application as submitted does not provide sufficient information to demonstrate that the parking of Heavy Goods Vehicles (that are not connected to or associated with the quarry operations) within an operational quarry, which would create an additional 16 HGV movements in a residential area, is an appropriate location and would provide for a sustainable pattern of development.”

Planners also criticised the lack of transport plan – or information about how many HGV movements the proposals would generate each day.

There was also a lack of detail on whether the HGV parking would impact on the work of the quarry – according to officers.