RESIDENTS in Watford who opposed an application to site a waste transfer station near homes and schools were left fuming this week after advertisements stated the unlicensed site was open for business. A planning application for the waste transfer and recycling complex on the Colne Way Industrial Estate off the A41 was approved by Hertfordshire County Council in November last year, despite opposition from residents' groups and Watford Council.

But planning permission for the site has not yet been issued because, six months after making its decision and imposing conditions on Watford Waste 2000, none of the agreed work has been carried out.

The company has also failed to secure a waste licence from the Environment Agency, which means that no waste should be accepted onto the site.

Adverts from Watford Waste 2000 stating that in a 'Pre-Easter Special trade waste [will be] accepted in our transfer station', appeared in local newspapers last week.

Mr Dick Hurley, of Woodmere Avenue, Watford, a representative of Tudor Residents' Association, has worked alongside the Lea Farm and Meriden associations in opposing the site's development.

He was shocked to find the company advertising the site without an official licence.

Mr Hurley said: 'Nobody has any control over what is happening on that site and, as residents' associations, we feel that we have an obligation to the people that live around here. The longer this goes on the more these people become entrenched.

'Nobody seems to have the manpower or resources to deal with this problem and there seems to be nothing that is going to stop these people.'

A representative of the Environment Agency confirmed that despite the company having already submitted two applications for a licence both had been returned because of a lack of information. A third application is currently being prepared for submission.

The representative said: 'There is no way that the company should be trading on the site without a licence. Nothing is acceptable and the company could be liable to a £20,000 fine and or imprisonment, but that's a long way off.

'The licence wouldn't be issued straight away either. There is a statutory issue time and there is a lot of work to do. Four months would be the minimum. It could be longer.

'It would have to go to the local planning authority and the Health and Safety Executive and possibly the environmental health department.

'If there was a lot of local pressure the consultation process could be widened.

'If the company is operating and advertising without a licence this agency takes that very seriously.'

Mr Mike Goodgame, general manager of Watford Waste 2000, who joined the company on Tuesday, was unable to confirm who had placed the advertisements.

He said: 'Having just arrived here on site this week, that is something decided before my time and at the moment I am playing catch-up. In all honesty I don't know who placed the advert and on what basis they have done it.'

Mr Goodgame was also unable to confirm whether waste material was being brought onto the site, although he did say that the company's vehicles were bringing recyclable material into the compound.

He said: 'I met with the county council this week about getting the planning application issued. We're keen to start building work by the summer, so we need the conditions completed within six weeks.