CRADLEY Heath residents have two weeks to fight an application to build a giant recycling plant which campaigners fear could belch out dust and cause long term health problems.

SRS Aggregates Ltd withdrew its planning application to build a waste transfer station at Oldfields on November 24 but submitted a revised version on the same day leaving residents until December 21 to object.

Cradley Heath Councillors Anne Shackleton and Julie Webb are leading the campaign to stop the waste transfer station being built.

Cllr Julie Webb said: “Residents have already suffered enough, people who have respiratory problems in the area are feeling worse and those without respiratory problems have developed them so there is no way application should be allowed.

She added: “There is already enough dust from the site and if they are allowed a brickcrusher it will be even worse.

“We can not let this happen so close to residential houses, the site borders Sutherland Road, the travellers site and Meadow Lane and I urge residents to object to the council before December 21.”

Cllr Shackleton added: “I know the application has been resubmitted and will be doing everything we can to restrict an application that effects the health and lives of our residents.

If the application successful there will be 114 lorry journeys to and from the site every day delivering 75,000 tonnes a year.

Sutherland road resident Richard Marshall, aged 29, is furious, he said: “It is bad enough anyway with all muck that we get on our windows, we can’t even open them because of all the dust that comes in so obviously it’s going to get much worse.

“Sandwell Council should do the right thing and refuse planning permission because it is so close to our homes.”

SRS Aggregates hired specialised consultants Enviroarm to produce a 28 page supporting report urging Sandwell Council to pass the application.

The report cited European, Government and Sandwell Council policy which backed the building of the waste transfer station and included traffic, noise and pollution studies to back up its bid.

And SRS Aggregates has promised to adhere to strict health and safety conditions if its gets approval.

It’s application said: “The provision of waste management facilities should make a positive contribution to improving the environment.

“However, because of the nature of these industrial processes they can be detrimental to the surrounding area. Health and safety has been designed into the scheme and the transfer station building is enclosed and therefore reduces visual impact and removes potential nuisance problems.”

To comment on the SRS planning application visit www.sandwell.gov.uk follow the links for planning applications, the reference number is DC/09/51632 or write to Mike Nicholls, Development House, PO Box 42, Lombard Street, West Bromwich, B70 BRU.