Glasgow residents are being urged to have their say on a planning application from an East End landfill company bidding to extend its contract.

Paterson’s of Greenoakhill Ltd has submitted an application to Glasgow City Council for the site and wants to extend its operation past 2025 for an additional two to four years.

Details of the proposal, which are available on the local authority’s website and includes increasing the remaining capacity of Greenoakhill by 410,000m3, has received hundreds of objections so far.

Glasgow Times:

The Broomhouse community council, which represents the views of the people living in the area, says the site should not be allowed to expand on the grounds of health and wellbeing. 

A spokesperson for the community council said: “Overwhelmingly, the people living here and in the surrounding areas want dumping to stop as quickly as possible and that can only happen if this most recent application is rejected by Glasgow City Council Planning. 

“Residents have over many years been subjected to foul odours, noise pollution and poor road conditions caused by the volume of HGV’s visiting the site, which leave the roads dirty and crumbling.”

The Greenoakhill landfill site has been in operation for more than 25 years. A statement to the local authority’s planning department claims that the facility has provided a valuable service fulfilling the demand for the safe disposal of waste, generated in the local area, that is not viable for recycling or further processing.

It is one of only three sites left that can be used by the council but residents have raised concerns that they cannot open their windows because of problems with odours. 

The community council spokesperson added: “The extent of the odour problems over the years have meant that residents cannot open windows, spend time in their gardens or go for local walks. 

“A site like this in this location, should not be allowed to expand. For the health and wellbeing of Glasgow residents we really need landfill operations to cease at the site as quickly as possible.  

“We would encourage not only those who have been impacted directly by pollution from the site but also anyone living in Glasgow who cares about the city and the environment to have their say by submitting a comment into Glasgow City Council Planning.”

A spokesperson for Patersons said: “Patersons of Greenoakhill have undertaken a range of community and stakeholder consultation and have carefully considered all feedback prior to submission of the application.
“The need for extending the estimated lifespan of the operation is considered justifiable as landfill remains an essential method of waste disposal.
“The planning application submitted to Glasgow City Council is supported by a detailed Environmental Impact Assessment Report. The EIAR outlines that the proposed development, when managed in accordance with the operational procedures and mitigation measures specified, will not cause any significant adverse environmental impacts to the site or surrounding area.
“The availability of landfill sites close to the source of the waste avoids any adverse environmental and economic impact of hauling waste excessive distances for the same method of disposal to be undertaken elsewhere in Scotland or beyond.
“The proposal also includes opportunity for increasing woodland planting, public footpath creation and an elevated focal point with panoramic views across Glasgow & Lanarkshire.
“The development will supplement the existing community asset, Greenoakhill Forest, where over 100,000 trees have been planted and 6km paths have been laid connecting Broomhouse & Mount Vernon to the River Clyde and Carmyle.”