At the Spelthorne planning meeting on September 18 the committee decided to report their objection to the Surrey County Council planning and regulatory committee on October 11.

The application was for an extension of three years at Oakleaf Farm in Horton Road, Stanwell Moor, which was named in the Surrey Waste Plan - Submission Plan 2006.

The site is at the entrance from Stanwell Moor Road to Stanwell Moor Village situated on the southern side of Horton Road, opposite Vermeulens Garden Centre.

The owners Charles Morris Fertilizers Ltd originally appealed to the Secretary of State for Importation, processing and export of soil for a temporary period of ten years from July 24, 1996, which was granted.

As ward councillor I explained that villagers have complained to me on many occasions about the dust and noise from an illegally operated concrete crusher on the site, Lorries running through the village and across a bridge with a five-tonne environmental weight restriction, particularly precluded by conditions attached to the permission and the size of the bunds.

The permission required a landscape restoration plan to be submitted to SCC by July 24, 2005, and the site restored to agricultural use by July 24, 2006, this timetable was not kept.

The Spelthorne planning committee objected to the extension for the following reasons; p The proposal constitutes inappropriate development in the Green Belt.

p The proposal would prevent the proper and timely restoration of the site.

p The proposal would prevent improvement/development of the landscape within the Colne Valley Park.

p There was no appropriate assessment of the impact on the nearby SSSI, SPA and Ramsar site (the reservoirs to the south).

The Surrey councillors rejected the application at their meeting on October 11, 2006.

The problem with many planning decisions is the Government do not make it easy for local government to enforce decisions made and agreed.

Until the New Labour Government delegates the powers to local authorities without interference, residents will not get a total town plan that is to their liking or immediate enforcement of conditions agreed.

I look forward to hearing that restoration of the above site has been completed.

COUN JACK PILKINGTON Stanwell North ward