Fresh bid to keep huge waste lagoons in Norfolk village sparks anger |
Four local councils have banded together to each oppose the continued use of a set of recycling pits in Seething, near Loddon, after a fresh bid was lodged with Norfolk County Council.
White's Recycling is seeking permission to carry on using three lagoons to store organic liquid waste off Upgate Road.
The councils have highlighted a series of issues, including strong odours, noise, and increased HGV traffic through rural lanes.
There have previously been calls to drain the waste lagoons over noxious smell concerns (Image: Norfolk County Council)
All four parish councils also reference the recycling company's previous applications, each of which have been refused, including one dismissed last year.
Seething Parish Council said it objects "in the strongest possible terms" to the latest retrospective application and is urging Norfolk County Council to reject it again.
The council criticised the applicant's claim that the development is "minor in nature", calling the suggestion "deplorable" and "completely unacceptable," especially given the scale of operations and the long history of objections.
Another issue for councillors is the "inconsistent" storage volume figures provided by the applicant over multiple bids.
Capacity was listed as 17,000 tonnes in 2019, 20,000 tonnes in 2023 and then just 7,000 tonnes in the 2025 documents.
The lagoons are located within the village of Seething off Upgate Road (Image: Google Maps)
Neighbouring councils in Hedenham, Mundham and Thwaite have also lodged objections over the recycling company's attempt to secure permission for the lagoons, which together hold around the equivalent of 11 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
More than 100 locals have also formally objected to the latest application.
White's Recycling argues that the lagoons have existed for around 40 years and believes their ongoing use has effectively become lawful "through the passage of time."
The company, which took over the site in 2019, said it submitted the new application "in good faith", despite the lagoons originally being constructed in the 1980s without planning permission.