A DECISION on controversial plans to operate a landfill site in Middlewich has been delayed.

The Environment Agency is currently considering whether to grant a permit to allow waste management company Cory Environmental to operate a site at Kinderton Lodge Farm.

An outcome was originally due on October 6 but agency bosses have decided they need more time to review the plans after more than 200 people signed a petition.

The response to the proposal has been described as ‘significant and reflective of the local community’.

Marianne Webb, communications officer for the agency, said: “We’re conducting more investigation work because of the response to the consultation.

“We want to make sure we’ve got enough time to review everything. It’s in the community’s interests.”

Despite protests, planning permission for a landfill site was eventually approved in 2007 following an appeal. But approval is still needed from the Environment Agency.

The proposed site will have an estimated capacity of 2.1million tonnes and an expected lifespan of 12 years.

Major concerns are that Cory Environmental wants to use six ‘cells’ to store the waste, rather than the 10 which were specified in the planning permission.

This means a bigger area of land could potentially be exposed to waste, fumes and vermin.

There are also fears that the landfill site could contaminate the River Croco but Ms Webb said a permit would not be granted if there was any risk of this.

Middlewich Town Council is also against the plans and in August Clr Mike Parsons described the landfill site as big a threat to the town as the incinerator proposals.