Agenda item

The consultation procedure undertaken was outlined in the report together with background information in respect of the site.

Officers advised members of a correction to the report, at paragraph 2 on page 15, which should read ‘industries that have the potential to cause noise, smell, dust, noxious omissions, nuisance or unacceptable loss of amenity to surrounding uses were unlikely to be acceptable within or adjacent to residential areas or within business parks or near recreational areas’.

Dr Willet, Vice Chairman of Sandymoor Parish Council, addressed the Committee.  Although he agreed with the Environmental Health response regarding noise, he raised concerns over the proximity of the site, at just 100m, to a nearby nursery with 50 children and other businesses, and to the Evenwood Pub, which sees between 50 to 100 customers per day at busy times.  He stated that neither of these were raised in the consultation response provided by Environmental Health.  He also raised concerns about the measuring of emissions from the site and how these would be controlled to ensure they were not exceeded, suggesting a commitment was needed from the applicant in this regard.

The Committee was then addressed by Mr Wilkinson the applicant.  He provided some background information on Metrohm and what they did, stating that the Company did not make anything on site, they provided instruments to UK and Ireland customers.  He added:

·         They had a small lab with two members of staff and had no plans to expand the operation;

·         The company had been operating for 12 years in the present location;

·         They did not carry out tests all the time;

·         The lab used water based chemistry so chemicals were in liquid form, which limits the emission of gas;

·         Testing was done in sealed containers, for the wellbeing of staff and these were correctly stored and disposed of afterwards; and

·         there were dozens of other labs in the region with similar extraction methods in place, eg at Daresbury Science Park.

Councillor Bradshaw then addressed the Committee, as local Ward Councillor for Sandymoor, raising concerns over the lack of control over the amounts of gas being emitted at any one time.  He stated that there were no amounts given in the report on the levels of gas, other than they would be small amounts and there were no controls on these either.  He suggested that the application be deferred until the limitations were specified by the applicant.

The Environmental Health Officer answered Members’ questions.  In response to concerns over gas being emitted, it was reported that because the quantities involved with this application were so low, there was no requirement for the applicant to be monitored by Environmental Health.  It was noted that the regulations regarding this issue were set by Government, and the applicant was compliant with these.  The level of emissions therefore were acceptable.

RESOLVED:  That the application be approved subject to the following conditions:

1.    Standard 3 year permission;

2.    Condition specifying plans; and

3.    Environmental Protection suggested condition.