CLAIMS that Halton council deliberately scuppered plans for the relocation of a waste management company to larger premises in Widnes have been firmly rejected by the local authority.

The council has denied any responsibility for the unsuccessful attempts at relocation by Environmental Waste Controls (EWC), based on Hale Road, despite the company claiming that it has been held back by 'red tape' and a 'reluctance by the council to have a waste management company in the borough'.

Bill Edwards, EWC managing director, said: 'We employ 100-plus people in the borough and more than 240 around the country. We will be bringing many more jobs to the local area, if only we can find larger premises - but the council doesn't want us.'

'I am trying to bring jobs to the area and Halton Borough Council is telling me it doesn't want our kind of jobs. Ultimately, we could be forced to move out of the area if this farce continues.'

A site at Dennis Road was first earmarked for the relocation but the company claims that delays meant the premises were too small by that time.

It also alleges that because the council took three months to rubber-stamp a planning application for a proposed move to Foundry Lane, the landlord pulled out of the deal because of an 'unacceptable delay'.

Now the company alleges its latest plan to move to Heron Business Park was prevented because of further delays and the failure of a planning officer to attend a planning hearing.

But the council says the withdrawal of the planning applications was not its fault and has stated that the latest planning application was not submitted.

A council spokeswoman said: 'The council co-operated fully with EWC on two applications to deliver planning consent.

'It is unfortunate that the offers of the sites were withdrawn - through no fault of the council.

'There are no current proposals on behalf of EWC regarding a site at Heron Business Park.'