'Noise' and old tree hold up hirer
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A skip hire operator locked in a battle with residents over noise and an old tree will have to wait to see whether he can continue using his operating centre in the Forest of Dean.
Edwin Davis, who was seeking a new one-vehicle restricted licence, had been using the Newent site without authority since 1997 before he was granted interim authority in March.
For Davis, John Todman told a Gloucester public inquiry that the site had had a commercial use over many years. However, planning consent for the skip hire business had been refused and Forest of Dean Council had served a planning enforcement notice. Gilbert Howell, who lives next to the site, complained about the noise. He claimed that sometimes the skip lorry engine would be deliberately revved up while it was travelling along the road. He was also concerned about rubbish being burned in the skips.
He said that, with the public inquiry looming, the operation had gone very quiet in recent months and there had been fewer skips in the yard.
Other residents told the inquiry that they opposed the use of the site, which was near the village green, even if restrictive conditions were imposed. They were concerned about the welfare of a black poplar tree outside the gate, which was thought to be one of the oldest of its kind in England.
Davis's wife, Angie, said that the vehicle made only about two journeys a day each way, and there were no plans to expand the business.
It's just a one-man band," she said. "If we bought another vehicle we would have to employ another driver and it wouldn't be worth it."
They would be happy to work with conditions imposed and she felt it would be unfair if they were not allowed to continue in business.
The previous owner of the site, Raymond Hyatt, said it had been used as business premises since 1938. The land had been used as an operating centre in the past, but the licence was surrendered several years ago.
The Western Traffic Commissioner, Philip Brown, is to announce his decision in writing.