Agenda item

The Planning Policy Lead Officer informed the Committee that the four central and eastern Councils in Berkshire, namely Reading, Wokingham, Bracknell and Windsor and Maidenhead were jointly preparing a Minerals and Waste Local Plan. It was brought to Members’ attention that Slough was not preparing a new Minerals Plan at this stage because there were very few remaining sites for gravel extraction left in the Borough and the future of the existing rail depot and processing plants at Colnbrook were dependent upon what happened with the third runway at Heathrow. Furthermore, a Waste Plan was not being prepared because of the uncertainty as to what would happen to the Grundon’s Energy from waste plant at Colnbrook. This facility, which was of sub regional importance, was also at risk from the proposed third runway and it was therefore not possible to produce a Waste Strategy for the Borough until it the future of the third runway at Heathrow was known.

Details of the potential implications of the proposals contained with the Draft Plan Consultation were discussed and mainly related to cross border matters, such as the HGV haul routes and the need for support for Slough’s proposals to relocate the Grundon’s energy from waste plant and the Colnbrook rail depot, if the proposed third runway at Heathrow went ahead. The Committee agreed that the comments, as set out in the report, be submitted as the Council’s formal response. 

Resolved -  That the proposed comments, as set out in the report, be endorsed and submitted as the Council’s formal response to the Consultation Draft of the Central and Eastern Berkshire Minerals and Waste Plan.