A RESOUNDING 'no' vote was expected to be returned last night when an application to create a huge landfill site in Middlewich was scrutinised by Congleton Borough Council's planning committee.

As the Chronicle went to press, planning officers had recommended councillors object to the proposal for clay extraction at Kinderton Lodge, with the space used as a landfill, and to the use of the clay to cap Cledford Lagoons - plans which sparked outrage among Middlewich residents.

The final decision rests with Cheshire County Council, but the borough council carries a lot of weight as a statutory consultee and can make representations.

Borough planners have a number of concerns they want applicant the Banks Group to address. They are worried about the environmental impact of the proposal on nearby roads and want further information from the county and district engineers.

Singled out is the impact of additional HGV traffic on Lewin Street and the surrounding area.

There are also environmental concerns about noise and air-quality, and planners want additional surveys to be carried out to assess the risks.

The borough council also has concerns over the capping of the Cledford Lagoons.

A spokesman for the council said: 'While Congleton Borough Council does not have the technical expertise to fully assess the impact of the restoration scheme, it is clear that the proposal is poorly developed.'

The borough council wants further assessment of the proposed lagoon restoration scheme.

There are also concerns for wildlife, specifically badgers and birds, and planners argue a further detailed survey is needed, along with comparisons with other inland salt marshes in the county.

Cheshire County Council planning officer David Diggle said the proposal would not go to planning committee at county level until September at the earliest.