Doncaster business expansion plan already ‘causing misery’ for residents thrown out

Catlow Civil Engineering, off Pastures Road, Mexborough, which crushes recycled building materials for sale, was refused formal permission for expansion after planing councillors sided with ward councillors and residents against the plan.

The extended operation, which began in March, ‘does not have correct planning permission’ according to Doncaster Council planning officers and has been ‘operating unauthorised’.

But planning officer Jessica Duffield, recommended councillors approve the plan with conditions.

Debbie Epton, a resident living across from the site, said the work had deposited dust across homes, bright lights were visible from bedroom windows at night and HGV lorries were accessing the estate in the early hours of the morning.

“This work is making our lives a misery,” Ms Epton told the planning committee.

“The vehicles are now bombing around the estate constantly to gain access to the yard going past a play area and we fear for the safety of our children.

“The lorries have parked outside our homes regularly as early as 4am in the morning with the engines running.

“Since March, we’ve found our homes, cars, garden furniture and other things covered in a layer of thick dust which for those with existing respiratory problems, they say are convinced it makes it worse.

“This has been going on without even having planning permission which makes it even more unfair.”

Mexborough ward councillors Bev Chapman and Sean Gibbons also spoke alongside Ms Epton in objecting to the retrospective application.

Coun Gibbons said: “The newer secondary operation is just not appropriate on this site across from residential homes.

“This is one of the worst applications ever to be proposed for Mexborough residents.”

Earlier this year, the applicant is said to have acquired additional land to expand the business and began operations including the crushing and recycling of products obtained as part of the business.

The retrospective application to gain planning permission received 71 objections from nearby residents.

The council’s Environmental Health team, who did not object, asked for conditions on operational hours of the use of the equipment and plant on site to reduce impact upon existing residential amenity through noise and disturbance.

The 24-hour use of the site they said, should be limited to ‘emergencies call-out activities only’.

Will Mulvany, the planning agent on behalf of the applicant, said Mr Catlow has operated on the site for 14 years and is ‘the first to recognise’ the concerns of residents while working in line with council officers to mitigate impacts of the development.

Planning officers recommended the application is given approval but the final decision was rejected by six votes to three.

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