A NEW household recycling centre is being built in a Worcestershire town despite concerns over traffic.

Worcestershire County Council has given the go-ahead for a facility at Tenbury Wells Business Park, off Bromyard Road after it was unanimously voted through by the planning committee today.

During the debate councillors said Tenbury's current recycling site, based on a council car park off Palmers Meadow, is "woefully inadequate".

It was nodded through despite three written objections by nearby residents and one householder speaking at the meeting to say it would massively increase traffic.

The site, which will be managed by West Mercia Waste, is forecast to attract around 264 cars per day when open, but under the plans it will only be accessible three days a week.

Resident Brian Gough, of Bromyard Road, who turned up to object, said: "The rear of our garden backs into the road and as we are 300 metres from the business park, we are the nearest objectors.

"I support recycling, but I just cannot support this application.

"There is no limits as to how much waste will be processed, no limits on traffic.

"In the week, Bromyard Road Primary School will experience double the traffic."

But Councillor Ken Pollock, who represents Tenbury, spoke in favour of the plan.

"The existing site is too small, the town council has been a willing landlord for some time and charged no rent, but it has served notice on the county council to quit because it wants a resolution to this matter," he said.

"This is a main road between Tenbury and Bromyard - I'd like you to approve it so Tenbury can actually achieve the same sort of higher recycling rates the rest of the county gets."

The current facility at Palmers Meadow is just 12 metres by 15 metres, by far the smallest in Worcestershire.

A report on the plans said it not only has no room for the number of containers required to separate enough materials, but it competes for parking spaces with leisure centre visitors.

The new site will allow for around 20 different items to be recycled and contain a host of skips and containers for materials including glass, plastic, paper, rubble, soil, cans, TVs, fridges, textiles and batteries.

It will also sell compost and open from 8am-6pm on weekends, as well as one additional weekday still to be determined.

The committee agreed it unanimously, with Councillor Paul Denham, one member, saying it will "dramatically increase" interest in recycling.

After the meeting Councillor Rob Adams, the planning committee chairman, said: "We were pleased to approve these plans that will significantly improve the recycling facilities for residents in Tenbury.

"Improving the environment is one of the council's key priorities and this application certainly fits the bill when it comes to doing just that.

Councillor Anthony Blagg, cabinet member for the environment, said: "Today's decision is very much welcomed and is a step forward when it comes to diverting waste from landfill; saving the taxpayer money and helping the environment.”