REPORT TO PICKMERE PARISH COUNCIL
20th July 2021
AGENDA ITEM 8.3 RECENT EVENTS RELATING TO TIPPING AT PICKMERE LANE, WINCHAM AND
FROG LANE, PICKMERE
1 REPORT
1.1 As Members will be aware, considerable concern has been expressed by local residents about
the importation of waste onto an agricultural field located on the Wincham side of the parish
boundary and accessed from Pickmere Lane, Wincham. The concerns related to the
considerable number of fully loaded HGV movements delivering such material, and the volume
of material imported, the apparently poor quality of much of the material itself, and the
unknown purpose of the whole operation. Complaints were made principally by residents of
Cheshire West/Wincham Parish, but also by residents of CEC/Pickmere near to the boundary.
1.2 It is understood that Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC) and the Environment Agency
(EA) have communicated with the owners of the land and commissioners of these operations.
The EA is apparently investigating the whole process in relation to compliance with the
legislation it administers. CWAC have simultaneously informed the site owners that a
retrospective planning application for the operations is required if the material is to remain on
the site. It is understood though that for the moment it is the EA that is taking the lead on these
matters.
1.3 Your Clerk has requested CWAC to inform this Council of any planning application that may be
submitted for this activity, in particular because the field concerned adjoins your Council’s
boundary, and also because the activity generated a substantial number of HGV movements
through Pickmere on roads unsuitable for such traffic.
1.4 Members may be aware that what appear to be similar operations have been carried out on
land at Frog Lane in recent months. The site there was not so close to dwellings as the Wincham
site, but even so the activity generated substantial numbers of HGV movements on roads, in
particular, it is believed, Pickmere Lane and School Lane, to the detriment of the local
environment and road safety, and exacerbating the pothole problems in the area and
particularly on School Lane.
1.5 A complaint has been submitted to CEC, asking that Council to investigate this activity, and to
consider whether again a retrospective planning application should be submitted. CEC’s
response is awaited.
2. RECOMMENDATION
2.1 That the report be noted.
J Steel Clerk to the Parish Council