WARRINGTON Borough Council is putting money ahead of the environment in its proposal to open a waste transfer station on Winwick Road, it has been claimed.

Cllr Mike Hannon says that the proposed station, which would be sited between the Shell garage and Winwick Road Skip Hire, is ‘about savings v environmental impact’.

The council hopes the facility will ‘improve the productivity and efficiency’ of its waste service, as it currently sends refuse to Widnes to be processed – with crews travelling over the border twice a day on average.

Cllr Hannon said: “Since the suggestion of a waste transfer station, I have consistently voiced my opinion against this location, and this is no ‘not in my by yard’ approach.

“The application has been brought about because of the revenue costs to transfer Warrington’s waste to Widnes.

“In brief, it’s about revenue saving v environmental impact and Warrington Borough Council view revenue savings as the winner and more important.

“So we will have up to 100 vehicles a day travelling to this site with no major highway improvement.”

Any new facility would be subject to planning permission being granted for the site.

Cllr Hannon added: “Every vehicle going to this site at either entrance or exit will have to drive past the site, so to get back and to they will have to drive to Cromwell Avenue island to turn around or Cockhedge island to once again turn around.

“Waste can be left on site for up to 72 hours before it is transferred, which brings with it the smells and flies associated with vermin.

“Depending on the wind direction, residents and businesses can expect odours.

“I call upon Warrington Borough Council to think again for a more industrial location and good highway network.”