CHEERS sounded from the public gallery as county councillors decided to ignore the advice of officers and block a controversial bid to extend a Worcester landfill site.

Members of Worcestershire County Council threw out a move to make the temporary household waste site at Bilford Road a permanent expanded tip, to the delight of campaigners.

"It's a very good decision," said Lucy McCabe, of the Action Against Bilford Road Tip group after the meeting.

"We understand the need for recycling in the city but we're very pleased the planning committee took into account the city council's objections.

"We know there are alternative sites in the city centre which are more appropriate."

Earlier, Worcestershire's planning committee chairman Nigel Knowles said making the site a permanent fixture would be inappropriate.

"We have a duty to provide recycling facilities but I feel very strongly many of the reasons Worcester City Council opposed the site becoming permanent are good," he said.

"If we give permission temporarily for whatever building, it should be temporary and we need to find a better site."

At a previous meeting, city councillors had agreed with angry residents that compactors at the site would be too noisy and work on Sundays would interfere with nearby residents.

Residents showed their opposition to the plans with a silent protest to coincide with a site visit by the planning committee two weeks ago.

But a spokesman for site managers Mercia Waste Management Ltd told yesterday's meeting the application was vital to meet waste management targets.

"Our recycling targets as a nation and at local level are very challenging and failure to meet them is not an option," said Nick Roberts. "Worcester is at the forefront of British authorities in meeting the challenge.

"It's your own authority's contractual obligation that this network be available and operational on Sundays.

"If not, it will be the only site in Worcestershire not offering a service on Sundays or Bank Holidays."