RESIDENTS are celebrating after a controversial application to build a waste recycling plant close to homes was turned down.

Anywaste Recycling’s plans for a recycling building, office, portable building and weighbridge at Mid Kent Business Park in Sortmill Road, Snodland, near Rochester, were refused by Kent County Council’s planning applications committee for unspecified reasons.

The plant would have covered 12 hectares, dealing with a mixture of material including soil, metal, wood and plastic.

Snodland Town Council had opposed the proposal, calling it “deeply offensive”.

Chairman Cllr Charlie Grayson said he was over the moon at the rejection because parish councillors had believed the applications to be “a done deal”.

He added: “This is very good news for people living in Snodland. One of the concerns is dust etc on the stuff coming in and out.

“We have enough problems with the sewage works down the road. There were concerns that it was going to throw up another stink.

“And there would be increased traffic movements. So everyone all in all will be very pleased.”