Incinerator fears rubbished by firm

Dec 10 2009 by Paul Mannion, Chester Chronicle

FEARS that there could be new plans for an incinerator to burn Merseyside’s waste in Cheshire have been refuted.

The Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority (MWDA) announced it is engaged in ongoing talks with Peel Holdings to burn the region’s waste at the Ince Marshes incinerator site last week.

But following the news Residents Against Incineration (RAIN) – who held Peel to account during a six week inquiry in to the Ince waste recovery park last year – believed a further site could be built in Cheshire to burn another authority’s waste.

Professor John Dearden, an expert in medical chemistry who spoke on behalf of RAIN at the inquiry, said: “It’s absolutely disgusting.

“What an appalling attitude on the part of Merseyside, ‘We don’t want a nasty, polluting incinerator on Merseyside. Let’s put it in Cheshire instead.’

“It appears to suggest that Merseyside wants another incinerator to be built at Ince, over and above what Peel are already proposing.

“If that is the case, RAIN would be vehemently opposed to it.

“It was clear from the start there wasn’t enough waste in Cheshire to run the Ince site and that the waste would come from outside the area.

“So from that point of view nothing has changed.”

The bid to burn Merseyside’s waste is seen as a radical compromise to the region’s growing rubbish problem.

At least one incinerator is being planned but the MWDA has clashed with council leaders who do not want to see incinerators in the area, leading them to enter talks with Peel who had their plan for a 95 megawatt power plant approved in August.

Wirral Council leader Steve Foulkes said: “It was an option that everyone would be able to get behind.

“It’s going to be extremely difficult to find a Merseyside solution.

“There is a high level of confidence that this is an option we go for.”

MWDA director Carl Beer said: “We are in talks with a number of landowners as part of its search for sites for new waste facilities.

“These include discussions with Peel Holdings in relation to a possible link up at its consented site at Ince Marshes.

“MWDA are not currently considering any other sites in Cheshire.”

A spokesperson for Cheshire West and Chester, formerly Cheshire County Council who opposed the proposal at the Forest Hills Hotel inquiry last year, said: “We would expect that any authority consider the disposal of its waste would like firstly within its own boundaries.

“Quite obviously, should this plan succeed there will be an increase in traffic in the area and this is certainly one of our major concerns.”