Recession scuppers landfill plans

There have been complaints about the noise and smells from the site

Controversial plans to extend the life of a landfill site in Northumberland have been dropped due to the recession.

Waste management company Sita UK said it would not be appealing against a refused planning application for its Seghill site because of "cost issues".

An application to keep the site going until 2020 was approved last year by Northumberland County Council, but rejected by North Tyneside Council.

Opponents of the landfill site said they were "absolutely thrilled".

The 50-hectare Seghill site has been used for landfill since the 1960s.

But opponents have complained about noise, smells and traffic disruption.

John Grainger, general manager of Sita UK in the North East, said: "We have decided against pursuing the case for extending the Seghill landfill site as the cost of the appeal process would have been significant in the current economic climate, and there would be no certainty of a positive outcome."

He said the company would be considering a reduced scheme at Seghill.

Chairman of the No To Landfill campaign group, Lyndsay Perch, said: "We have said all along there is no need for this site and it seems Sita have finally realised this."

The group collected about 5,000 signatures supporting their three-year campaign.