BOSSES at County Hall have identified sites in East Lancashire where developers could build large scale waste processing facilities.

According to the county council, Altham and Moorfield industrial estates in Hyndburn, and Lomeshaye in Nelson, are suitable for large scale built waste facilities.

The sites are included in the Joint Lancashire Mineral and Waste Development Plan Document, which tells developers where they can apply to create the centres.

If, following consultation, the guidance is approved, it will pave the way for the creation of waste transfer sites where material recovery, construction and demolition waste recycling can take place.

The sites could also be used for composting, advanced thermal treatment and mechanical biological treatment facilities.

Councillors have raised concerns over the sites’ suitability for processing, treating and recycling waste.

Although Lomeshaye, near Nelson, is an established industrial site, it is close to Lomeshaye village, an old people’s home and Lomeshaye Marsh Nature Reserve.

Mohammed Iqbal, who is a borough and county councillor, said: “My concern is that it would deter businesses looking at Lomeshaye, which has been a successful industrial estate.

“The county council needs to consult properly on this, with local people, before making a rash decision at the time.

“Quite clearly, people living in that area will have objections to make, so there needs to be total transparency rather than the usual rubber-stamping exercise.”

Altham Coun Susan Haworth said Hyndburn did not need another waste facility in addition to the Whinney Hill landfill site.

“If there are objections from residents I will be quite happy to support them,” she said.

Up until now, developers have been able to apply for permission for waste sites on any land designated for industrial use.

However, the new guidance has been produced after the Government made changes to the planning framework which means such sites require a separate waste designation.

Officers at Lancashire County Council said that due to ever-changing technology, it was difficult to say exactly what the built waste facilities would include.

In East Lancashire it is envisaged that there would be one 2.5-hectare site for advanced thermal treatment and recovery, three one-hectare recycling sites and one composting site.

Whitewalls and Heasandford industrial estates, in Colne and Burnley respectively, have already been designated suitable for composting.

The alterations to the guidance address issues which arose during hearing sessions held by the Planning Inspector in September last year.

Consultation will run until Thursday March 1. Go to http://lancashire-consult.limehouse.co.uk/portal.