Twelve month licence only
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A POTTERIES operator was granted a new Operator's licence for one year after it told West Midland Licensing Authority Arthur Crabtree that it would appeal against a proposed planning enforcement order.
Calabross Ltd, trading as Potteries Tyres, had applied for a restricted licence for two vehicles, having run on an interim licence since its formation last June. Stoke-on-Trent City Council opposed the application.
For the company, John Hodkisson said the objection was purely on planning grounds, and the council was not suggesting the operation centre was unsuitable as such.
The company maintained that there was no need for planning permission, as the operating centre, an old sand quarry, had been used as a haulage yard for many years.
Tilcon had in fact used the quarry as a base for its fleet in the region until quite recently. It was recognised that there was a limited life of five years, as the quarry was being filled in and was to be used for building.
John Symons, a principal planning officer of the City of Stoke, said there was no planning permission for the current uses going on at the site, and the council had resolved to taken enforcement action.
During the period of the quarrying activities, the council had taken the view that transport was ancillary to quarrying. Since the other uses had developed over the last 12 months, the council had been deluged with complaints including a petition bearing 155 signatures in connection with transport activities taking place.
The council had been unable to come to a satisfactory arrangement with the owners, Calabross being a sub-tenant, and enforcement notices were going to be served.
Question by Mr Hodkisson. Mr Symons said that he was unaware that the quarrying had finished five years ago. He said that when he visited the site 18 months ago there was still quarried material on the site. It would take about 12 months for an appeal by Calabross against the enforcement action to be dealt with.