Controversial plans to transport more than a million cubic metres of landfill through Winnington and build a gigantic solar farm have been knocked back.

But planning chiefs were warned their decision could be overturned on appeal.

The scheme - submitted by Infinis Solar Developments Ltd and Green Earth Developments - proposed the re-engineering, remediation and restoration of the Wallerscote Limebeds and a 1.5km route along Winnington Avenue to the Tata Chemicals Europe site.

It would have involve transporting 1.35m cubic metres of non-hazardous material over the next five years to the 138-acre site, followed by construction of a giant solar farm. Planning documents said it would require an average of 193 two-way lorry movements per day, or 20 two-way trips per hour.

Cheshire West and Chester’s planning committee had been recommended to approve the scheme at a previous meeting last month. But members unanimously voted to delay a decision after concerns over the impact of HGVs on local roads and Winnington Bridge so other options could be investigated.

One such option was transporting the material via the River Weaver instead of by road,  but this was deemed unsuitable.

Addressing the committee, Marbury councillor Lynn Gibbon, said: “Relying on Winnington Bridge places a heavy financial burden on the council, with increases in HGVs significantly accelerating the deterioration of road surfaces and infrastructure.

"The lack of foresight in addressing the impact of gridlocked roads is alarming and irresponsible."

Cllr Norman Wright, added: "I’ve not heard one comment saying this is good for the village, there isn’t much difference between this application and the last application, maybe a slight tweaking here and there."

He added: "At the end of the day it’s still causing a lot of pollution. All of these HGVs will still be idling at Winnington Bridge."

The lime beds were first constructed in the 1930s and 1940s to settle calcium solids from the adjacent chemical works, but previous restoration plans have not come to fruition.

The solar park had been intended to generate electricity that would either be fed into the local distribution network or exported directly by a private wire connection to the Wallerscote Works for use by Tata Chemical Europe in chemical production.

But the committee refused the application over impact on traffic and highways of HGVs transporting the landfill.

But planning officers warned there were ‘risks’ around the reason given for refusal as relevant experts had not objected. The committee was warned if an appeal was made and the applicant was successful, costs would be awarded against the council.

A motion to refuse the application was put forward with eight members of the committee voting in favour of refusal, one voting against, and there was one abstention.