FURIOUS Blackmoor residents are up in arms about three new controversial planning applications by Williams of Bordon on the Blackmoor Farm Estate who, in their eyes, is already flouting regulations and is allegedly in breach of current planning conditions.
They have the support of Whitehill Town Council and are urging other residents and local councils to assist them in their fight to stop the "crusher" proposals.
In their reports planning officers have recommended approving all the applications on the basis that they are not a departure from the development plan.
Williams of Bordon was originally granted permission to change the use of the existing green composting site to topsoil recycling and green composting in November 2002 for a period of five years.
On this application Mr Williams stated three times that he had no intention of applying for a concrete crusher, but the first of Eric Williams' latest applications is for the installation of a mobile concrete crusher for a temporary period, in conjunction with the existing recycling facility at his green composting and recycling site.
Hampshire County Council gave temporary permission for a crusher to be allowed to crush excess concrete for the upkeep of the roads on the site. He does not have permission for crushing any concrete unless prior permission is given by the county council.
On his application, Mr Williams also claims that the crusher will be on the eastern side of the site, but in fact it will be installed on the western side. Last week it was proved conclusively by the Countryside Agency that the concrete crusher would definitely be installed within the East Hampshire Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
This was established by a Blackmoor resident, Keith Richardson, who made enquiries to the Countryside Agency.
Peter Chadwick, the team leader from minerals and waste planning, said: "I confirm that the fact that part of the site is within the AONB will be brought to the attention of the committee when they consider the application", in an email to Mr Richardson.
He added: "I also confirm the committee will be informed that the proposed location of the concrete crusher is on the western part of the site, and within that part of the site which is within the AONB."
Mr Chadwick does not believe there is any need for new public notices, as there has been no change to the planning application. He said: "I note that most of the letters of objection from local residents refer to the AONB as one of their reasons for objection to the application."
The councils have been told about this AONB development and have officially accepted that this is the correct position. Policy 8 of the Hampshire Minerals and Waste Plan states that permission should not be given unless the activity is in the overriding public interest. Local residents maintain that this is most certainly not the case.
Villagers claim that the applicant is importing excessive amounts of concrete, crushing it and then selling it. According to John Trodden who lives at Regency House, on September 14, 14 20-tonne lorries loaded with concrete tipped on the site. He also claims that concrete is being bought onto the site in pure loads, not mixed with soil, as it is meant to be.
At present Mr Williams is allowed to use the concrete crusher for up to five hours per week from Monday to Friday, but is not allowed to operate it over the weekend or on bank holidays.
Mr Trodden has installed expensive movement-sensitive cameras at his own expense to monitor the situation. He said: "I have evidence which proves irrefutably that Mr Williams is flouting the regulations. The concrete crusher frequently operates outside permitted hours. The whole site is a blasted cock-up and needs to be looked at."
Both Selborne Parish Council and Whitehill Town Council have sent representatives to visit the site. On Thursday, October 28, Bill Oliver, Alexander Chisholm and John Coles from Selborne Parish Council made a pre-arranged visit to the estate. Mr Williams knew they were coming but did not know what specific time they would arrive
Alex Chisholm said: "During the visit we couldn't hear the concrete crusher, the noise was effectively negligible."
They spoke to Mr Williams, who said that the crusher had been running most of the morning, but he had placed rubber buffers in to dampen the noise.
Mr Chisholm said:"We stood at Blackmoor House, with the wind blowing in our direction. Most of the noise was from the traffic, there was only a little noise from the concrete crusher. The road noise was more predominant. We have no objection about the noise level."
Bill Oliver said: "Taking the site in isolation, it appeared to be a well-run site. However having heard the new information from the residents we have to object because the concrete crusher is distinctly within an ANOB."
Whitehill town councillor Adam Carew said: "A number of major concerns were raised from the site visit, the most important being the impact on the environment."
Whitehill Town Council also voted unanimously to object to the concrete crusher because of its impact on the environment, the distance from a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), the amount of concrete, the material coming in, the fact that it is not mixed, the dust from the concrete crusher and the lorries, and also because it has been officially confirmed that it is an ANOB.
Adam Carew said: "I support concrete crushing but this is a location issue first and last and I don't think this is the right place for it."
Mr Williams' second application is a variation of Condition 13, the doubling of lorry movements from the present 30 to 60.
In November 2002 Mr Williams was granted permission for no more than 30 lorries to enter or leave per day. Mr Williams interpreted this incorrectly as 30 lorries in and out which would mean 60 journeys.
Mr Trodden said: "I have evidence that on September 17 there were 104 lorry movements on the site, and this is commonplace. I've got irrefutable evidence that Mr Williams is clearly not sticking to the conditions at the moment. God knows what he'll do in the future."
He has copied the evidence onto DVDs and sent it to Hampshire County Council and the Environment Agency. He has been told by Hampshire County Council that there are only two monitoring officers in the whole of Hampshire.
Whitehill Town Council and Selborne Parish Council have both objected to the variation of the condition. "This is grossly in excess of what he was permitted," said Linda Tiley. "He is currently breaking the condition so we have to object," said Bill Oliver.
The final application is for variation of condition 18, an extension of time for the submission of the restoration scheme. Mr Williams was meant to have produced the plan by last Thursday, (November 11), but has applied for a three-year extension, up until January 31, 2007, which is 10 months before the need for restoration.
David Ashcroft from Selborne Parish Council, and a farmer made the point that restoring the site to agricultural grazing is just a question of removing materials, fences and levelling the land. He said: "There is no possible variation on the farming theme for a delay."
Both Selborne Parish Council and Whitehill Townhill Council objected to the extension. Bill Oliver said: "We need a positive reason for the variation. As far as I can see there are no grounds for this extension."
Whitehill Town Council would like Mr Williams to produce the plan as soon as possible. Linda Tiley said: "They could do it tomorrow if they wanted to." All agreed that he should produce it by December 31.
Blackmoor residents claim that another way in which Mr Williams is flouting the rules is the fact a condition of the temporary permission to operate soil and green waste recycling states that, in the interests of visual amenity, stockpiles of material shall not exceed three metres in height. In recent weeks residents claim piles six metres high have been seen.
For the frustrated residents who live near closest to the site, excessive dust and noise are an unbearable nuisance. The occupier of the closest house to the site, South Lodge, said: "It is horrendous. The paintwork on the exterior of my house is covered with dust and looks like sandpaper. If you think he is going to limit his operations to five hours a week, you are mistaken."
Although EHDC will be consulted on the applications, they are a county matter and will be formally decided by Hampshire County Council.