Trucking company can keep Blackpool depot after concrete crusher removed

Fox Brothers has won its appeal against the council's refusal of permission to use land at Squires Gate Industrial Estate for the storage of up to 67 wagons, a workshop and a concrete mixing plant.

The decision came after the company removed the concrete crushing operation from the application and conditions were agreed over operating hours.

HGV movements from the site are only allowed between 6am and 7pm Monday to Friday, and between 6am and 1pm on Saturdays

Planning inspector Mark Harbottle, who ruled on the appeal, said in his decision notice: "The crushing, screening, batching and baggingoperations and aggregate storage have had an unacceptable effect on livingconditions by reason of airborne sand and dust and noise.

"Early morning HGV movements may also cause unacceptable harm to living conditions by reason of noise."

He granted planning permission, subject to conditions, for a period of three years.

Blackpool Council's planning committee had refused the application in June 2021 after more than 40 objections were received from nearby residents who complained of air pollution, environmental contamination and the “horrendous noise” of a concrete crusher and other heavy machinery at the site which the contractor moved to in 2019.

But drivers working for Fox Brothers, which employs around 100 workers at the site, warned they may lose their jobs if the company was forced to relocate outside Blackpool, because they would struggle to travel to an alternative site.

A report to the council's planning committee said the use of the concrete batching plant had now ceased and complaints to the council's environmental protection service had also stopped.

Susan Parker, head of development management at the council, told the committee: "The inspector allowed the appeal but set out a number of conditions and restrictions that dealt with all the concerns we had."

She added the appeal had not cost the council any money because the original decision made by the council had been judged to have been ‘reasonable’.