'This refusal is a victory for Devon's landscape' say campaigners

Campaigners say they hope the decision to refuse a controversial landfill site will set a precedent for Devon's countryside.

More than 3,000 people had signed a petition against the plans for near to the famous orange elephant on the M5, with 700 formal objections to the plans.

Mike Elliott, who helped lead the campaign, says attitudes to waste are changing and the need for landfills is also falling.

He said: "The housebuilders over the last few years they have made great strides to reduce the amount of waste that is going to landfill.

"Certainly with the demolition waste, most of it now is not going to landfill. Even in the local sites now they are re-using the soils and they are re-profiling. It's not always easy but it's important that they are encouraged to do that.

"Giving them the opportunity of an available landfill is the soft option."

In February campaigners against the proposed landfill at Lower Brenton Farm staged a 'countryside walk' to highlight the land being lost if plans go-ahead.

BT Jenkins had argued the 700,00 cubic metre site would replace another one of their operations at Trood Lane and the soil being displaced would come from nearby housing developments.

A report for planners on Devon County Councilwarned: "the proposed development would have an unacceptable landscape and visual impact on the distinctive characteristics of the Area of Great Landscape Value, the Exe Estuary and Farmlands Landscape Character Area and receptors within the local area including users of the public rights of way network."

It added: "During operations, the scale, design and nature of the proposals would result in significant adverse effects on the distinctive agricultural character and scenic quality of the area and intrude into or obstruct panoramic views currently enjoyed from the network of public rights of way within and around the site"

Also that: "The proposed restoration landform would detract from the distinctive character of the area due to the permanent change to the naturally undulating valley topography and field patterns of the site and its surroundings and the introduction of steep slopes at the eastern end of each valley that would appear as incongruous features in the local landscape."

Objections came from Kenn Parish Council which cited the 'impact of surface water run-off and pollution on Exminster Marshes and the Exe Estuary' and 'the extra water flow will compromise flood defences at Kennford'.

Shillingford St George Parish Council argued 'the use of a greenfield site is neither acceptable or justifiable' and 'the need for additional landfill capacity in this location is questionable and poorly evidenced'.

The webcast of the meeting can be found here

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