MORE time is needed to complete the restoration of the closed Arpley landfill site – including the delivery of 40,000 cubic metres of soil.

Sankey Bridges residents were left delighted when the tip finally closed in December 2016.

Plans to complete work to restore the former landfill site and transform it into a ‘beautiful’ area were approved by Warrington Borough Council.

But now, the council’s planning department has approved plans to extend the time needed for the project to be completes.

Applicant 3C Waste Limited now has until April 30, 2024, to finish the work instead of April 30, 2022 – as approved in a previous application.

Planning documents state: “Operations at the site are undertaken in accordance with an environmental permit (EP) issued and regulated by the Environment Agency.

“A variation to the EP was required and has recently been secured to allow the remaining restoration material to be imported to the site to complete the restoration.

“A delay to securing the EP has meant it was not possible to complete restoration in accordance with the timescales previously agreed.

“As such, this planning application seeks to extend the timescale for restoration by two years to April 30, 2024.”

They add that no changes are proposed to the approved method of restoration or the details of restoration, with the application being for an extension of time only.

Placement of material will be completed by no later than October 31 this year, with final grass seeding and tree planting completed by April 30, 2024.

Documents add: “It is clearly in the public interest that restoration of the site is completed as soon as is reasonably practicable, and to the highest standards in line with the approved restoration scheme.

“While it is regrettable that restoration has not been completed within the timescale prescribed, leaving the site in its current partially restored state is not an option.

“More time is required to achieve final restoration. The sought-after two-year extension will enable the remaining circa 40,000 cubic metres of restoration material to be imported.