A COUNCILLOR says going through with an enforcement notice on Arpley Tip would have led to ‘lengthy and costly’ legal battle.

As reported in last week’s Warrington Guardian, the council has pulled the notice - which would have forced owners FCC to stop operations.

Clr Pat Wright (LAB - Bewsey and Whitecross) said: "The independent legal advice the council has received is that the Enforcement Notice would not be automatically enforceable without lengthy and hugely costly court litigation, all at taxpayers expense.

“And even then, there is no guarantee that courts would force FCC to cease their operations because of the forthcoming planning appeal and FCC's subsequent alternative planning application to extend the licence for a shorter five year period.

“Throughout their time running Arpley Tip and throughout this whole planning application process, FCC have shown little concern about the negative impact their operation is having on the local community.

“Their delaying tactics will not distract myself and Cllr Hitesh Patel (Great Sankey South) and all other local Labour councillors who are totally committed to bringing this nightmare to an end once and for all. "