Objection To The Asphalt Plant At BP Mitchell, Birchall Lane - Planning Application PL/0112/19

We, the undersigned residents of Welwyn Garden City and surrounding communities, strongly object to the inclusion of a Mobile Asphalt Plant within Planning Application PL/0112/19 for the BP Mitchell Inert Recycling site at Birchall Lane, Cole Green, SG14 2NR

The applicant is now seeking to formally add the asphalt plant to the planning application; despite the fact that it has already been operating without planning permission, without public consultation, and without the environmental assessments normally required for such a development. This is unacceptable.

The asphalt plant has already caused significant harm to local residents, local green spaces, and the wider environment. Its impacts are incompatible with the character of the area and with the expectations of a Garden City community.

🚨 Why We Object:

1. The Asphalt Plant Has Been Operating Without Planning Permission

• The operator ran the plant for months before admitting it constitutes development.
• Residents were never informed, consulted, or given the opportunity to comment.
• Retrospective inclusion in the planning application is not acceptable for an activity with such serious impacts.

2. Noise, Smells, and Fumes Are Already Affecting Residents

• Strong odours, fumes, and emissions travel far beyond the site boundary.
• Noise from early‑morning operations disturbs sleep and daily life, often before 07:30am and, until recently, as early as 06:00am.
• Sunday is the only day when the plant does not operate, and therefore the only time local residents get any respite from the noise and emissions.
• The dust and noise from the permitted inert recycling activities were already difficult to live with, but the noise from the Asphalt Plant is significantly worse.
• Residents who work night shifts, including key workers, are unable to sleep during the day because of the noise from the asphalt plant.
• These impacts have been widely reported by residents.

3. Residents Have Been Forced to Change Their Daily Behaviour

• People are keeping windows and doors closed due to the noise and air pollution and emissions from the plant.
• Many have to increase the volume on radios and televisions to mask the noise when the plant is operational.
• Families are avoiding local green spaces such as the Cole Green Way, Rolls Wood, and Moneyhole Playing Fields because of fumes and odours.
• These are not minor inconveniences; they represent a serious loss of amenity and quality of life.

4. The Site Is Too Close to Homes, Schools, and Public Green Spaces

• Several primary schools, doctor surgeries and residential areas lie within the affected zone.
• Fumes have been detected from a one mile radius including on the Cole Green Cycle Route, Rolls Wood, Blackfan Road and Moneyhole Playing Fields.
• This is not an appropriate location for asphalt production.

5. Asphalt Production Is Not Part of the Permitted Inert Recycling Use

• Asphalt manufacturing is a separate industrial activity, not an extension of inert recycling.
• It requires virgin materials, including bitumen, to be brought onto the site.
• The claim by the applicant that this is a circular economy activity is misleading.

6. The Operator Has a History of breaching Planning Conditions

• The company has repeatedly started operational activities earlier than specified in the Planning Conditions.
• A business that disregards rules should not be granted further permissions.

7. The Proposed Relocation Does Not Solve the Problem

• Moving the plant 60 metres slightly south does not reduce emissions, noise, or odour.
• The impacts will continue to spread across nearby homes, schools, and green spaces.

8. Planning Policy Requires Protection of Health and Amenity

• National and local planning policies require developments to safeguard public health, wellbeing, and the environment.
• The asphalt plant does the opposite; it harms air quality, amenity, and the character of the area.

9. Concerns About Influence and Fair Decision‑Making

• Any commercial relationship between the County Council and the applicant must not influence this planning decision.
• Planning decisions must be transparent, unbiased, and based only on planning policy, evidence, and the protection of public amenity.
• Private commercial arrangements carry no weight in planning terms and should play no part in determining this application.

10. Strong Public Opposition 

• Over 300 residents have already submitted complaints and petition responses.
• The amendment to the existing planning application should be rejected because the proposals are not minor material changes. They represent significant alterations to the size, appearance, operation, and environmental impact of the site.
• The community clearly does not support the inclusion or operation of the proposed asphalt plant.

 

🚨 What We Are Calling For

We urge Hertfordshire County Council to:

1. Reject the inclusion of the mobile asphalt plant within Planning Application PL/0112/19. The proposals are not minor material changes.
2. Protect residents, schools, and green spaces from this harmful industrial activity.

Conclusion
The asphalt plant is the wrong development in the wrong place.
It harms local people, local nature, and the character of our local area and Welwyn Garden City.
We call on the Council to refuse permission and uphold the principles of safe, responsible, and lawful planning.

Sign below to protect our town, our health, and our future.