RETROSPECTIVE and new plans for expansion of a recycling plant in West Oxfordshire have been approved.

Members of the county council’s planning and regulation committee yesterday approved a raft of developments, most of which has already gone ahead without permission at the Sheehan Recycled Aggregates Plant, Dix Pit, Stanton Harcourt.

The company had already expanded the site from two hectares to 3.3 hectares to create space for storing, screening and crushing imported waste, and a surface water drainage pond.

It had also installed security fencing, relocated an office building and site entrance.

The changes were picked up by officers on a monitoring visit and a planning bid was launched, which included new plans for a vehicle workshop.

At the meeting, Stanton Harcourt parish council chairman and county councillor for Eynsham Charles Mathew raised concerns about light pollution, heavy use of the B4449 by lorries and problems with a nearby bridleway.

A neighbour, Phillip Basil, also complained about lighting on the site.

He said: “The lights are located at the top of the tallest structure and are visible from miles away. I can see them from the A40 at Burford.”

But Sheehans spokesman Suzi Coyne said the lights had been used at night in response to an increase in thefts.

She added: “We are working with a lighting engineer on the best options.”

The plans were approved, with everyone except Tory George Reynolds voting in favour.