Recycling change falls foul
Labour-run Lambeth Council has broken its own planning condition to operate recycling collection trucks from a new depot.
The fleet moved its recycling fleet to Vale Street in West Norwood during November. But it has ignored a planning permission condition stipulating that double yellow lines should first be put down on roads close to the depot in order to improve road safety.
The borough's planning committee had set down the yellow line condition earlier this year when it granted the council permission to operate trucks from Vale Street, despite opposition from local residents.
Private individuals and businesses would face enforcement action for breaching planning conditions - even the demolition of unlawfully constructed buildings. But Lambeth can escape punishment for the breach of a condition set down by its planning committee because the law states a council cannot take enforcement action against itself.
Local Conservative councillor Andrew Gibson - who represents the ward where Vale Street is situated - has slammed the council for ignoring the planning rules it expects others to follow.
Andrew said: "It was a condition of planning permission that yellow lines were put down at the junctions of Tritton Road, Martell Road and Rosendale Road to do something to improve road safety in the neighbourhood ahead of 24-tonne trucks operating there from 6am until 10pm.
"Residents living close to the Vale Street depot are fearful someone is going to be killed or seriously injured because the site is not suitable for such large vehicles. And yet the council seems content to weasel out of adhering to the planning condition.
"The damage Lambeth is doing to its reputation by treating its own application in this way is immense; if an accident happens, it will be incalculable."
The fleet moved its recycling fleet to Vale Street in West Norwood during November. But it has ignored a planning permission condition stipulating that double yellow lines should first be put down on roads close to the depot in order to improve road safety.
The borough's planning committee had set down the yellow line condition earlier this year when it granted the council permission to operate trucks from Vale Street, despite opposition from local residents.
Private individuals and businesses would face enforcement action for breaching planning conditions - even the demolition of unlawfully constructed buildings. But Lambeth can escape punishment for the breach of a condition set down by its planning committee because the law states a council cannot take enforcement action against itself.
Local Conservative councillor Andrew Gibson - who represents the ward where Vale Street is situated - has slammed the council for ignoring the planning rules it expects others to follow.
Andrew said: "It was a condition of planning permission that yellow lines were put down at the junctions of Tritton Road, Martell Road and Rosendale Road to do something to improve road safety in the neighbourhood ahead of 24-tonne trucks operating there from 6am until 10pm.
"Residents living close to the Vale Street depot are fearful someone is going to be killed or seriously injured because the site is not suitable for such large vehicles. And yet the council seems content to weasel out of adhering to the planning condition.
"The damage Lambeth is doing to its reputation by treating its own application in this way is immense; if an accident happens, it will be incalculable."
posted by Cllr John Whelan on 13:16
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