PLANS have been lodged for a waste transfer station and new household recycling centre for the Blandford area.

It follows a public consultation with the final plans expected to be decided by a planning officer, rather than come before a committee of councillors.

A Dorset Council planning application says the site will be used to collect and transfer waste and recyclables and will include a covered waste transfer station, with waste storage, a sprinkler tank and pump house, and a split-level household recycling centre with vehicle unloading bays and partially covered central yard, a dedicated 're-use centre', weighbridge and associated landscaping. 

The 2.7 hectare site, currently part of an arable farm, is south east of the Sunrise business park and north of the A350 Blandford bypass.

It will replace the existing, cramped, centre on the Blandford Heights industrial estate which some people find difficult to use and can only accommodate 14 vehicles at the same time with the site, like the one in Dorchester, having to close when full containers need removing, causing congestion on the access road.

Papers with the application say the site will be “designed to bulk up separated waste recycling streams from Dorset Council’s household and commercial collection services and allow the public to bring and separate their own recyclables into clearly labelled containers.”

The waste transfer operation is proposed to be open 7am until 7pm with public access 

to the recycling centre from 8am to 6pm from April to September and 10am to 4pm for the rest of the year.

Two sites were considered for the new facility - with Langton Lodge Farm on Back Lane in Blandford ruled out due to the presence of a high-pressure water main which crosses the area. There were also concerns around whether there was enough room for the planned development and the potential for increased traffic on approach roads to the site.

Work could start on the site this summer and is expected to be completed by winter 2022.

Full details of the application, from the public consultation, can be seen at - https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/bins-recycling-and-litter/recycling-centres-and-banks/blandford-waste-management-centre.aspx