‘Early start will have no impact on those nearby’

Deputy managing director Richard Evans said the move to open the facility from 4am was necessary and had been made following consultation with the parishes.

‘That engagement has been ongoing throughout the implementation of the strategy, but now that we are getting closer to the new services we have begun meeting more regularly,’ he said.

‘We have a monthly catch-up with each parish and their contractors, so we can keep them updated on the roll-out and they can provide feedback and raise any questions regarding the new arrangements.

‘This is a key stage now and we are all working hard to ensure a successful transition to the new collection arrangements in September.’

If the application is approved, the transfer station doors will be closed before vehicles unload, and the processing of materials will not start until 6am, as stipulated in the original planning approval.

The proposed arrangements would be similar to those currently in place for blue and clear recycling bags, which contractors are able to deliver to the sorting facility throughout the night.

Full traffic and noise impact assessments were included in the original planning application for the transfer station. These concluded that there would be no adverse effect on traffic, and the noise from operations would not be significant.

‘The latest application has updated these studies, to take account of the proposed earlier opening,’ said a spokesman for States’ Trading Assets.

‘This concluded that there were no additional impacts on traffic or noise.

‘An assessment of the impact of any extra lighting requirements has also been carried out.

‘This concluded that although the site will be lit earlier, for somewhere between one hour and two-and-a-half hours, this will be incidental given existing lighting in the area.’