The proposed Incinerator site at Saddlebow, King's Lynn. Picture: Ian Burt

Join the debate and follow our live coverage of the King’s Lynn incinerator inquiry

Chris Bishop Tuesday, February 26, 2013
9:15 AM

After years of increasingly bitter debate, the long-awaited public inquiry into the proposed King’s Lynn incinerator begins today.

Hundreds are expected to attend the first day of the hearing, which begins at 10am at the King’s Lynn Corn Exchange.

They'll hear lawyers representing each of the four main parties - Cory Wheelbrator, Norfolk County Council, West Norfolk Council and King's Lynn Without Incineration - outline the case they intend to make over the coming weeks.

Instead of moving on to hear the first expert witnesses called by the parties, the inquiry will then adjourn for a week until Tuesday, March 5 to give Elizabeth Hill, the new inspector who will be overseeing the hearing, time to prepare.

It is still not clear who would be heard when after the inquiry resumes on March 5, or how long it would last.

When it does conclude - estimates vary between early to mid-April - the inspector will make a recommendation to Communities Secretary Eric Pickles, who will make the final decision.

Supporters say building the burner, at Saddlebow, on Lynn's southern outskirts, offers the most cost effective way to dispose of Norfolk's "black bin waste".

But opponents argue there are risks to health and the environment, as well as better ways to recycle our rubbish than burning it.

While the first day will be held at the Corn Exchange, due to the expected attendance, the hearing will move around half a mile to the Professional Development Centre, next to the fire station, off Kilham's Way, when it resumes.

You can also stay in touch with the debate as it unfolds on Twitter, using the hashtag #klinc.

31 comments

I think Electra is sympathising with the Inspector. Not an emotion that ever visit your house D icken would it?

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alecto

Wednesday, February 27, 2013
King's Lynn West Norfolk Council have a healthier alternative and do not want to burn waste, and I am sure Elizabeth Hill will see that the waste incinerator has been badly thought out by a handful of people at county hall who can't see past their own noses and did not allow a full Norfolk debate. They did this so that you would not learn about the health affects that are caused by waste incineration. Waste incinerators, cause cancers it hase been proven time and time again. We will not allow the children of Lynn to be experimental guinea pigs for a 25 year experiment breathing in mercury, lead, cadmium dioxins and furans 65.516 people said NO.

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Jack

Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Electra having a go at the Planning Inspector now ? True to form.

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Dickens

Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Have you seen the scowl on the face of the Chairman? She looks as though she has been living under the threat of an incinerator from years. I only see that sort of anger on the faces of people in Kings Lynn.

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Electra

Tuesday, February 26, 2013
NCC looked into enhanced landfill mining in 2006 and, despite it being more acceptable to the public, shelved the report, to be reviewed at a later date. This never happened, instead the obsession for incineration, bred under 13 years of new Labour inactivities, was taken over by the Tory's hook line and sinker, with sense and revenue streams going out of the window to be replaced by pollution and dependencies to long term costly PFI's, 'bad value for money' as the audit committee calls them. Norfolk's public made their mind up in 2000, but our political parties ignored what made sense.

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ingo wagenknecht

Tuesday, February 26, 2013
regandharry, no we can't keep putting valuable resources into landfill sites, nor is there a need to burn them. Ever heard of enhanced landfill mining? recycling creates far more jobs, expertise and new revenue streams than burning it in a primitive process. Kings Lynn would be subjected to have waste come in from outside Norfolk, including hazardous waste. We can do better than that.

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ingo wagenknecht

Tuesday, February 26, 2013
I wish they just get on a build the incinerator asap,We cannot keep putting rubbish in landfill sites and our heads in the sand. All this money spent on an inquiry when its going to be built anyway.

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regandharry

Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Well, as Part of the governments Clear Line of Sight (CLoS) and transparency framework in financial accounting, NCC have a duty to make the financial details publically available. Backed into a corner much NCC? And before certain individuals moan on here, I am a government FSC holder so i do know what i am talking about

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d, west lynn

Tuesday, February 26, 2013
I wish they just get on a build the incinerator asap,We cannot keep putting rubbish in landfill sites and our heads in the sand. All this money spent on an inquiry when its going to be built anyway.

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regandharry

Tuesday, February 26, 2013
You really are worried aren't you? Good.

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Electra

Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Looks as though the anti campaigners are doing what they do best. Just could not stay away could they ?

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Dickens

Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Would have posted sooner but had to go and get a towel from the kitchen to soak up the desperation oozing from my laptop. D.ickens sounds almost hysterical. Nice to see. Lovely idea Christine to do some knitting. Perhaps you could start with a lovely waistcoat for leader Borratt so he can wear it when he goes out with the West Norfolk Hunt of which he is the Master and which he completely forgot to tell people about in his full page advertisement yesterday. Good luck to all of you there. We three will be over when it starts, from the other side of the county. Yes, I know Dicklet it is very upsetting that people from all over the county are behind the people of West Norfolk.

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Electra

Tuesday, February 26, 2013
A high turnout by the public today would be another disaster for NCC as it would demonstrate the same strength of feeling that has prevailed since the outset. Why do we all think that D.ickens would urge everyone to stay away?

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Fenscape

Tuesday, February 26, 2013
I say, if it gets too dull just go walkabout, like what the comment I posted earlier appears to have done. By the way, want to stop the incinerator, VOTE FOR ME IN MAY.

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Mr Cameron Isaliar

Monday, February 25, 2013
Right there Em.ma and I bet they'll be pretty colourful yarns at that..

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whimsie73

Monday, February 25, 2013
christine.. Sounds like you will not be short of wool as CW and NCC will up to their old tricks of spinning yarns.

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Emma Miller

Monday, February 25, 2013
I rarely post on this site but I do feel that on this occasion everyone should be aware that the more people that turn up for the inquiry the better. This WILL be noticed by the powers that be. There is now a very real chance that it will not be built. We should not leave things to chance. There will only be a few others who have different views there so let`s go for it!

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democrat

Monday, February 25, 2013
I look forward to knitting in a comfy seat in the Corn Hall tomorrow. If loads of people turn up, we could knit for charity.....

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whimsie73

Monday, February 25, 2013
"We will use all legal means to suspend any plans for building any incinerators in Norfolk so that a detailed study of current, suitable methods of waste disposal can be undertaken."Norfolk Labour manifesto.

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Peter Watson

Monday, February 25, 2013
Taken from an email sent out by today KLWIN: Cllr Nick Daubney, Leader of the Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk, said: " This is a big issue for West Norfolk and it is crucial that as many people as possible come along to hear proceedings and to participate in this inquiry. All along we have said that the only fair way to determine this matter was to have an independent public inquiry, where all concerned parties are able to put forward their points, which will then be considered by an independent inspector." Free car parking spaces are being reserved on the Tuesday Market Place and on the gravel car park on Chapel Street, for people attending the inquiry.

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The Wash Monster

Monday, February 25, 2013
At last, the final stage in getting the much needed incinerator built. Don't worry Kings Lynn, it probably won't hurt anyone's health.

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popeye

Monday, February 25, 2013
Thanks for the reply Di.ckens, sorry about splitting you name I don't mean to be rude but the EDP tend to moderate posts that do not misspell you in some way. Please explain why you are so worried about people attending the inquiry. You have never shown consideration or concern for people interested in the incinerator before so why bother yourself if they may be bored? I am sure people are able to decide if they want to be there or not quite simply if they get bored during the day they can leave as they wont be locked in. There will be no herding, coralling or heavies accompanying people to the toilet here you know, its a different world to NCC. Many people here like attending council meetings which are always conducted in a friendly welcoming manner.

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Canary Boy

Monday, February 25, 2013
The EDP is offering a good on line live report feed so no point at all in attending this Inquiry. Anyone interested can just go online for a full in depth up to date report of the salient points. Well done EDP and thank you.

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Dickens

Monday, February 25, 2013
C.an.ary. b.oy. This Inquiry will be very boring for anyone attending. Hours and hours of facts and figures day after day. All expert evidence submitted will be very complex and difficult for anyone to follow unless they have in depth knowledge. Most audiences at these events either fall asleep or go home after three or four hours. Very little point in attending unless you enjoy knitting. Best to stay away.

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Dickens

Monday, February 25, 2013
Dear di.ckens does that mean you will not be attending? I had thought you may have been sitting alongside your colleagues from County Hall giving them your own particular brand of advice.

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Canary Boy

Monday, February 25, 2013
The new Inspector is a safe pair of hands and the Inquiry will not begin this week so no point in attending. Stay at home until the real Inquiry date is announced.

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Dickens

Monday, February 25, 2013
The decision to build the incinerator will be given by the Sec of State after the Conservatives regain control in May.

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Dickens

Monday, February 25, 2013
Moderators working overtime on this subject? If more openness is good enough for Billiam Borelet, why can't the EDP follow his lead?

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Police Commissioner ???

Monday, February 25, 2013
That's right, listen to Dickens. In fact why bother going at all. 65,516 voted no, countless people have toiled unstintingly over the past years to get an inquiry and lift the lid on wrongdoing at NCC, then they pull a fast one by sneaking in a stooge inspector at the last minute. Crafty lot these tories.

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Police Commissioner ???

Monday, February 25, 2013
It will not be worth attending the inquiry in the morning. It will be a waste of time so do not bother going. Nothing will happen and you will all be sent home.

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Dickens

Monday, February 25, 2013
Could not be held at a worse time for the Tories leading up to May elections. A former senior Cabinet minister will visit Kings Lynn next month to address Labour party activists and supporters in the area. Alan Johnson, who served in several top government posts under both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, including as home secretary, is due to speak during an event at the town’s Thorsby College on Friday, March 8. The incinerator will be on the agenda and remind voters of the Tory Party manifesto on localism. Every word will be transmitted from the incinerator inquiry and a stark reminder who invited Cory Wheelabrator to pollute our Town namely the Tory Party.

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Choice

Monday, February 25, 2013