RESIDENTS and councillors have hit out at a government decision to allow the re-opening of the domestic waste sand pit at Alton Road, Wrecclesham, without a public enquiry.
The verdict was announced in a letter from the Government Office of the South-East, giving Ready Mix Concrete (RMC) Aggregates the green light to extract clay from the site and deposit non- toxic waste.
Plans for the sand-pit, which were approved by Surrey County Council in February, have attracted huge local opposition, resulting in the TRASH campaign against it.
Residents fear an increase in industrial traffic, water and air pollution, and vermin resulting from the pit's re-opening after nine years of being dormant.
Mike Murphy, of Wrecclesham Residents Association, condemned the decision, saying he was "disgusted" and this action simply "bypassed democracy".
He added: "This will put health at risk. How can the Secretary of State agree for the pit's re-opening, when we have put such a good case against it."
In his opinion, domestic waste which would now be flowing into the Alton Road tip, was some of "most hazardous" possible.
He said a "cocktails of chemicals" often occurred from such waste, including old paint tins, paint-stripper and other domestic chemicals, which could potentially seep into the water table, even if the pit receives protective lining.
Wrecclesham residents" have been fighting the case against such activities so close to their homes.
Farnham South county councillor David Munro received the government's response on Saturday.
He contacted The Herald to express his concern, saying he was "very sorry" a public inquiry had not been agreed to.
He said: "Despite the sterling efforts of councillors, residents, and the TRASH campaign, it seems the pit will now be re-opened once various legal agreements to give teeth to the conditions imposed by Surrey County Council have been signed."
Mr Munro believed the pit was "a mistake" and was personally against it, but said residents living near the pit "must not be worried, as the area will stay a healthy place to live."
He added the council's scientific advisers believed that whilst "there was no such thing as zero risk" this site did not represent a threat to health.
Focus, he stressed, must now be placed on ensuring RMC "obeyed very stringent conditions placed on them".
These, he said, included an absolute ban on dumping toxic waste, and the requirement not to work over the weekend and during the night, amongst others.
He would swiftly move to form an action committee to supervise RMC, similar in nature to the regulatory group of the Runfold sand pits, and hoped residents would join this.