BOROUGH leaders will pay up to £60,000 to fight plans to build large incinerators in Ellesmere Port.
They will spend the money on hiring a barrister and experts to represent the town at a public inquiry.
Backed by the county council, the Cheshire Replacement Waste Local Plan has identified a number of sites across the county suitable for incinerators.
Five of these are in Ellesmere Port. There is Associated Octel in North Road and two sites in Newbridge Road. There is also Bridges Road next to Cleanaway, though the borough's objection to this site concerns the proposals for thermal treatment (waste burning) only.
Objections from throughout the county to the plan will be heard at a public inquiry which will begin in Chester on September 4.
Speaking at the borough's full council, Cllr Mark Henesy (Lab, Groves) said: 'The county has identified five sites in Ellesmere Port which it deems suitable for vast processing and thermal uses. This borough disagrees with that and we've already given our views on it. But it's still Cheshire's policy.
'We wish to state our case against these sites being identified as plant sites and need professional advice. We need a barrister and specialist, which will cost between £20-60,000. There is nothing in the budget to accommodate that and I ask the council to defend itself to the best of its abilities by having a proper barrister.'
Cllr Gareth Anderson (Con, Ledsham) said: 'This is an excellent use of money. It's about time we employed professional support.
'Much better this than being represented on the Quinn Glass issue in Ince, which has much less impact on local residents.'
Councillors unanimously agreed to the proposal.
