FARMERS have lost their latest bid for permission to operate a waste composting plant.
County council planners have rejected proposals by M Metcalfe and Sons, based at Silver Hill Farm, near Tunstall, to resume composting at the farm.
Composting of green waste, brewery sludge, ice cream by-products and shredded MDF started three years ago.
Originally, the business operated under a temporary licence from the Environment Agency, but the operators were later told it needed planning permission if it was to become permanent.
County councillors refused an application in December 2004 and the Metcalfes were told to close the plant.
The county council's planning committee has now rejected a similar proposal.
Councillor Bill Hoult said: "There is a strong recommendation from the Environment Agency for refusal, even with a lesser operation.
"There is a desire to make sure we recycle as much as we can, but it must be on an appropriate site."
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