Western Morning News - Friday 27th. March 2009Campaigners jubilant as incinerator rejected
JUBILANT scenes broke out after plans to build a giant incinerator in the heart of Cornwall were scrapped.
The vote by an overwhelming majority to refuse the application was greeted by whoops and cheers from the packed public gallery at County Hall.
The decision by Cornwall County Council planning committee, at the end of a rancorous battle over the plans, was greeted by protesters as a victory for common sense – with one campaigner saying yesterday that it felt "like winning the cup".
Sita, the French company behind the application for a 390ft incinerator at St Dennis in Mid Cornwall, said that it was considering its position and may appeal against the decision.
During the debate at County Hall yesterday, one councillor described the planned incinerator as "a festering boil waiting to erupt" and the local MP called on councillors to pull together in the interests of the people of Cornwall.
Ken Rickard, chairman of campaign group St Dennis Anti Incinerator Group (Stig), said after the meeting: "The overall result is nothing short of fantastic.
"It's been very intense and I've shed a few tears this afternoon. I can't explain it – it's like winning the cup.
"I would like to thank all of the county councillors for the way they have conducted themselves and shown common sense in coming up with the right decision."
In the council chamber, 20 councillors voted in favour of refusing the application. Glenton Brown, the Liberal Democrat member for Tintagel, abstained and Les Hunkin, Liberal Democrat member for Grampound and Mevagissey, voted against the refusal.
During the debate, Andrew Waters, independent councillor for St Enoder and Colan, said: "It will be more like a festering boil waiting to erupt."
Roger Bonney, chairman of the planning committee, said after the meeting:
"It's probably one of the most important meetings that this county council has ever had.
"It's one of the biggest projects ever looked at that could have affected people from Land's End to Launceston."
Coun Bonney commended the anti-incinerator campaigners on the case they put before the committee and the behaviour of more than 100 supporters at the meeting.
The bitter battle over the incinerator plans had become increasingly fraught over the past two weeks as the Western Morning News revealed that a draft report by planning officers recommending refusal of the plans had been changed at the last minute to recommend approval.
Campaigners against the incinerator said they feared massive health risks arising from the plant which would have processed 240,000 tonnes of municipal waste a year and seen 90 lorries visiting the site every day.
Many people were surprised yesterday by the huge margin by which the proposals were rejected. Dick Cole, Restormel borough councillor who spoke on behalf of St Enoder Parish Council, said after the vote: "We were confident we had the right arguments but we didn't expect to win as overwhelmingly as we did."
Truro and St Austell MP Matthew Taylor (Liberal Democrat) said: "This was clearly the right decision as the overwhelming majority against the application clearly shows.
"The county should now urgently work to look at cheaper, quicker and more environmentally friendly options for dealing with Cornwall's waste."
Graeme Hicks, independent councillor for Redruth South, said: "They will now have to go back and look at other ways of disposing of waste and look at the latest technologies."
At yesterday's meeting, planning officer Adrian Lea explained the background to the incinerator plans saying the council needed to take action to tackle its reliance on landfill sites. The county could face fines in the future if EU targets for reducing landfill were not met, he said.
After the meeting, David Buckle, Sita's project director, said the company would now be considering the reasons given by the planning committee for the refusal.
When asked if Sita would be appealing against the decision, Mr Buckle said: "We will be speaking to the county council and will decide what to do next."
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