RESIDENTS have voiced their concerns over fire safety and traffic in relation to Rockcliffe's waste plant expansion. 

On December 1, an application by North West Recycling for an extension and re-cladding to one of its units was approved. 

Following the approval, locals have said their concerns have not been adequately addressed - shining a light on the fire that lasted almost a month at Rockcliffe Industrial Estate on November 8, 2021. 

One of the problems with fighting the 2021 fire was that sufficient water could not be used to extinguish the fire because of fears over detrimental effects on surrounding water courses.

Residents fear the same thing happening again and say the plans do not ensure sufficient water containment for a fire to be extinguished. 

READ MORE: Campaigners question why draft permit for incinerator plant 'withheld'

CRAIN spokesperson, David Mudge said: “A fire safety statement that refers to ‘house’ and ‘dwellling’ is not appropriate for a major industrial development processing thousands of tonnes of waste to make a fuel” but the planning officer’s report considers the Fire Safety Statement to be “adequate and proportional for land-use planning purposes”.

David Mudge said “rather than reducing concerns, this Fire Safety Statement has increased concerns.”

Both Kingmoor and Rockcliffe Parish Councils have also raised concerns about HGVs with Kingmoor highlighting the unsuitability of the road. 

The proposed changes are part of ever-expanding waste-related developments in Carlisle which involve burning waste or preparing waste to be burnt, including the Environment Agency opening their public consultation on the incinerator. 

Rockcliffe Parish Council said: “The development in our opinion should be delayed until a revised full application is made to the new Cumberland Council” and asked for consideration of “the suitability of the site based on how many waste operators already reside in the Parish, how sustainable it is to move waste from county to county using HGVs and if there genuinely is an appetite to operate a Poorly Managed Waste Facility adjacent to a SSSI [Site of Special Scientific Interest], an AONB [Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty], a National Cycle route and a small rural English Village.”

In response to the concerns, a spokesperson from Cumbria County Council said: “The application by North West (NW) Recycling for extension and re-cladding Unit B was approved on 1 December 2022 at the Development Control and Regulation Committee, with conditions including limiting HGV numbers.  

"This decision came after the council carefully considered the objections of the local community with representations from the Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service; the Environment Agency and Environmental Protection. The existing building has been used by NW Recycling since 2016.

"The determination of a planning application is based on established and adopted policies, and Cumbria County Council welcomes all representations in the course of discharging our statutory role as the determining authority for Minerals and Waste planning applications," they said. 

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