New twist in bid to stop incinerator on edge of King’s Lynn
By DAVID BLACKMORE
Monday, January 30, 2012
9:41 AM
Campaigners have welcomed a decision by West Norfolk Council to launch a legal challenge against the release of government funding to build an incinerator in King’s Lynn.
The latest twist in the fight against the Saddlebow project saw borough councillors vote unanimously in favour of starting court action against environment secretary Caroline Spelman’s decision to approve a £91m Waste Infrastructure (WI) grant for the plant.
The minister had withheld funds for the £500m Saddlebow scheme because she wanted convincing there was a “broad consensus” for the waste strategy.
West Norfolk Council claims the decision to approve the grant could not be justified given that 65,000 people voted against the plant in a poll last year.
Last night, anti-incinerator campaigner Mike Knights said: “We are very happy with the way the borough council are going about this. It is clear that councillors care about what the people who voted them into their position want.”
He added: “We would have explored launching a legal challenge on this decision had the council not done so.”
Mrs Spelman announced in November she was withholding the grant and told County Hall she wanted to see more evidence of “broad support” for its proposed waste strategy.
That led to a number of district councils writing letters to Mrs Spelman supporting the waste strategy, though West Norfolk Council leader Nick Daubney and some opposition leaders on district councils pleaded with her not to be swayed.
A barrister and specialist planning solicitors have been engaged by the authority, which has set aside a £150,000 fighting fund for the legal challenge.
In Mrs Spelman’s letter to county council leader Derrick Murphy after approving the grant, she said: “We consider that ‘broad consensus’ does allow for some dissent and does not in particular require unanimity among the interested local authorities.”
She added she hoped the county council would share her “continuing concern that the project is generating such strong negative feelings locally” and urged all local authorities and the contractor to put “fresh effort into working constructively”.
The county council says the plant is needed to prevent the county’s waste having to go to landfill. It says it will save millions of pounds a year.
Latest News
- UPDATE: Three arrested following suspicious death in Great Yarmouth
- Norwich blind woman in row with First bus driver over bus pass
- RSPB angered by Defra proposals to control buzzards
- Outrage as country house in Ingoldisthorpe given go-ahead to host weddings and corporate events
- Thief stole cash from Attleborough surgery
Other Environment Articles
- UPDATE: Three arrested following suspicious death in Great Yarmouth
- Norwich City youngster George Francomb signs a contract extension
- Review: Carol Ann Duffy
- Norwich blind woman in row with First bus driver over bus pass
- RSPB angered by Defra proposals to control buzzards
- Outrage as country house in Ingoldisthorpe given go-ahead to host weddings and corporate events
- Thief stole cash from Attleborough surgery
- Stun gun offence leads to suspended prison sentence for former Waveney district councillor for Worlingham Andrew Draper
- Munhaven care home in Mundesley holds 1960s day to mark Dementia Awareness week
- Wymondham RSPCA shop set to move to larger premises
- Labour shadow minister Karen Buck launches safe haven plan at Hellesdon High School in Norwich
- New gym club to open at former Habitat store in Norwich
- Gorleston Cliff Top Gala rescued after insurance bill shock
- New charity shop opens in Dereham to support Norfolk Hospice Tapping House
- A1075 reopened after car accident at Wayland Wood, near Watton
Most Read News Stories See all
GALLERY: Celtic fans in Norwich in force for Adam Drury testimonial
Supporters of Scottish champions Celtic are in Norwich ahead of the Adam Drury testimonial game tonight.
- Ambulance called to Norwich pub after Celtic supporter suffers minor head injury
- Family of footballer fighting for his life after crash near Norwich ‘touched and overwhelmed’ by messages of support
- Norwich-born businessman Matthew Newbury to appear on tonight’s Secret Millionaire programme
- Entries open for fourth Breckland photography competition
- UPDATE & PICTURE GALLERY: Costessey blaze was “accidental”
Travel News
5 comments
Re-use, what does it mean? How much non- domestic waste has been re-used over the last three years? Answers on a pinhead.
Report this comment
bedoomed
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
I suspect this will run on for a few years. In the mean time Blackborough end and other landfil sites will convert to recycling (MBT) plants. No need for an expensive incinerator.
Report this comment
Choice
Monday, January 30, 2012
I don't think the paragraph below is quite right:- "That led to a number of district councils writing letters to Mrs Spelman supporting the waste strategy". I believe the District Leaders of the Councils wrote without consulting their councillors! So, that doesn't constitute a District Councils view from where I'm standing. Also, can anyone tell me if the Cory part of Corywheelabrator is the same Cory involved in the Coryton Oil Refinery and who are in financial difficulty?
Report this comment
Christine
Monday, January 30, 2012
Also we should wait for the results on birth defects especially due to well run incinerators before any decision is made.
Report this comment
Choice
Monday, January 30, 2012
Ms. Spelmann has seen no reasons to allow the incinerators in Cameron's and Pickles backyard, whilst the proposal for Kings Lynn has no such powergfull Nimby's speaking out against. As yet cllr.s have not told us how they will feed this incessant waste burner, use co disposal metghiods with hazardous waste and whether they will charge other counties to use this facillity. Their plans to built four incinerators in Norfolk looks like wishfull thinking, because cross party opposition to this incinerator will grow out of all proportions, as people realise that this issue concerns all of u in Norfolk. Other alternatives could not only be cheaper and healthier, they could also be adopted easier, because they fit into our current waste strategy for which the NCC has a mandate. Reducing waste, reusing and recycling is what Norfolk chose, ten years back, the lack of political will and the stoicism of some cllr.s will not change the fact that NCC has never received a mandate for incineration.
Report this comment
ingo wagenknecht
Monday, January 30, 2012