12/2/2009 - Inspectors back Cumbria's minerals and waste plans

Planning inspectors have given their backing to Cumbria County Council’s policy blue-print for quarrying, mining and waste management developments until 2020.

They have rated the Cumbria Minerals and Waste Development Framework "sound", subject to a number of relatively minor amendments. Cumbria is only the fourth county council in the country to reach this stage.

Under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, minerals and waste planning authorities like Cumbria County Council are required to produce a Minerals and Waste Development Framework which sets out the requirements for future minerals and waste management and how they are to be met.

Councillor Tim Knowles, Cumbria County Council’s cabinet member responsible for the environment, said: "A lot of hard work has gone into putting together and talking to communities about this local development framework and the fact that Cumbria is only the fourth county council in the country to get to this stage shows that it’s a difficult process.

"We will now have in place a set-up that complies with new government legislation and can meet the challenge of major changes to the way we deal with our waste and minerals." 

In April full council will be asked to formally adopt the core strategy and development control policy documents.

The next stage of work, identifying sites for minerals and waste management developments, has now restarted and Cumbria County Council will be consulting on the sites later this year.

ENDS

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