A WASTE giant has withdrawn its plans to build a million tonne landfill site near Ivybridge – much to the delight of stalwart campaigners.

Members of EcoIvy are 'delighted' that waste giant Viridor withdrew its application last week for an Environment Agency permit to build a million tonne landfill site at New England Quarry, Lee Mill.

Viridor also confirmed that it had no plans to build on the site in the future, marking the end of a three-year battle.

Charlotte Mills, from local campaign group EcoIvy, said it was a victory for local people.

She added: 'We are delighted Viridor has seen sense and withdrawn the landfill permit application.

'This would have been a huge landfill that would have been used for well over the next 30 years.

'We are trying to move away from landfill as a way of putting our waste out of sight, out of mind.

'We should be looking to the many alternatives that can deal with waste in a more ecologically sustainable way.'

The withdrawal comes only three months after the Viridor withdrew another EA permit application to build an incinerator on the quarry.

Devon County Council refused planning application for both the incinerator and landfill in October 2012.

Viridor needed both planning permission from Devon County Council and an environmental permit from the Environment Agency to go ahead and build the facilities.

Ms Mills continued: 'EcoIvy would like to congratulate all the local residents who have contributed to consultations by the Environment Agency and Devon County Council.

'All of the public's hard work and determination over the last three years has made a real difference and contributed to the refusal of the planning application and the withdrawal of the EA permits for New England Quarry.'

Dan Cooke, director of external affairs at Viridor, said: 'The fact that Devon County Council refused the planning application was one of the primary factors for our withdrawal.

'Viridor was also hoping to use New England Quarry as part of the South Devon waste partnership but a contract was issued to another company, rendering the site unnecessary.

'Finally the changing market conditions during the recession have meant that withdrawing was the only sensible option.

'Viridor has no plans to do anything on the New England Quarry site in the future.

'We will hand it back to its owners and continue to invest in other sites nearby, principally at Heathfield near Newton Abbot.'

Ms Mills added that giving the site to residents would be the perfect ending to the story, saying: 'The local people want this to be the end of the matter.

'They would really like to see the beautiful New England Quarry taken off the list of proposed waste sites.

'All that remains is for Viridor to donate the quarry to the community as a nature reserve.'

But Mr Cooke said that could not happen as the company does not own the quarry. 'We have funded many nature reserves in Devon but that one isn't an option.'