Campaign group takes waste incinerator protest to county HQ

Detailed plans for a waste management plant between York and Harrogate have provoked a wave of opposition since the blueprints were unveiled by North Yorkshire County Council and York Council at the end of June.

Members from the newly-formed North Yorkshire Waste Action Group (NYWAG) have organised the demonstration in Northallerton to tie in with a full meeting of the county council.

Chairman of NYWAG Steve Wright said: "The general public are beginning to become aware that this is an extremely serious issue, but we have formed the group to raise awareness even further.

"Our aim is to highlight the financial and environmental issues which are associated with the strategy. We certainly do not believe that the incinerator is the way forward.

"We should be looking to increase recycling rates rather than simply burning rubbish. This is certainly not a done deal, but we believe it is being portrayed that way."

The plans for the project spanning the next 25 years were revealed last month under a 900m deal which will be the biggest contract ever awarded by North Yorkshire County Council and City of York Council.

A series of recycling techniques will handle up to 320,000 tonnes of waste a year, although the most controversial element is the planned rubbish incinerator.

The waste management strategy is aimed at saving taxpayers up to 320m over 25 years by avoiding the Government's landfill taxes.

County council chief executive Richard Flinton said: "Our proposals for dealing with such an important issue as waste management are creating interest and debate.

"It is important that everyone has the opportunity to make their views known by contacting the council by phone, email, letter or petition. We also recognise people have a right to protest providing it is done in a lawful way."

A decision on the proposals and whether to award the 900m contract to waste management company AmeyCespa is due to be made by the councils in October.