Leafy village locals 'deeply alarmed' by waste plant plan amid fears for 'health of children'

Britons living in an Essex village have expressed serious concern over proposals for a new waste facility due to health and safety fears for children in the rural community.

The facility at Places Farm, Doddinghurst, near Brentwood, has functioned as a waste transfer station since 2023, growing from a single-driver operation into a licensed recycling centre employing six staff members.

A retrospective planning application has been lodged with Essex County Council for the site, which is operated by MAG Aggregates.

The plans aim to broaden operations to accept construction waste from highways, commercial and domestic sources.

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Community members have described themselves as "deeply alarmed" by the development plans, with petition organisers claiming it would prevent their homes from being "sanctuaries where we find peace and safety".

Villagers fear the proposed expansion could result in additional heavy goods vehicles travelling through narrow rural roads and increased dust blowing through the air.

Health implications for pupils at Doddinghurst Primary School, situated close to the site, have emerged as a leading worry among parents.

One resident voiced anxiety about airborne particles near the school, stating he was "concerned for the health of the children".

Councillor Sam Gascoyne has claimed properties in proximity are already covered with a layer of dust, while expressing further unease about lorry movements along the village's country lanes.

Mr Gascoyne has launched a petition demanding the proposals cease, which has attracted more than 1,200 signatures from concerned locals.

The petition describes Doddinghurst and neighbouring Kelvedon Hatch as "beautiful places" with "clean" air and "unspoiled" countryside, calling them "an ideal environment for raising our children".

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The councillor insisted the scheme does not serve residents' best interests.

"One of the wonderful features about Kelvedon Hatch, Doddinghurst and Blackmore is the fact that they are relatively quiet, rural areas that are highly desirable to live in," he said.

"And having an inert waste plant with trucks, noise and dust isn't really what any of the residents have signed up for."

Despite the widespread opposition, a spokesman for the site has sought to reassure the community, telling local outlet Essex Live the facility would not increase in size and neither lorry numbers nor dust levels would rise as a result of the proposed changes.

Meanwhile, Councillor Lesley Wagland has requested the application be referred to the County Development and Regulation Committee for a decision.

She insisted the matter should be determined by the full county committee rather than district-level planning officers.

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