Campaign to halt incinerator heading for Downing Street

Two of the county's MPs yesterday pledged to take the campaign against the controversial plans to the highest level of Government in the hope that the development at Allerton Park does not become a reality.

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones and his parliamentary colleague Nigel Adams, who represents the Selby and Ainsty constituency, will hand in a petition with more than 5,000 signatures on it to Downing Street on November 18.

Campaigners from the North Yorkshire Waste Action Group, who launched the petition this summer, are making a final push to collect hundreds more signatures ahead of the Downing Street hand-over.

Both MPs voiced concerns over the financial implications of the project's 900m deal, which will be the biggest contract ever awarded by North Yorkshire County Council and York Council and will span 25 years.

Mr Jones said: "I have major reservations about the financial case and the councils are making an astonishing financial commitment.

"We simply do not know what will happen in the future – what landfill taxes will be, and how much waste will be available.

"If recycling rates do increase to the levels which we should be aiming for, it is questionable whether there will be enough waste available for the incinerator to operate efficiently."

Households across the county produce about 470,000 tonnes of waste a year with 55 per cent ending up in landfill, although protesters claim a greater emphasis should be placed on boosting recycling rates to counter the need for incineration.

Mr Jones estimated that up to 300,000 tonnes of waste are needed each year to ensure that the incinerator is viable. But he stressed that rubbish may have to be brought in from the commercial sector if the amount of domestic waste falls significantly due to increased recycling rates.

He added: "It is obviously wrong that such an operation involving commercial waste would be underpinned by taxpayers' money."

Both North Yorkshire County Council and York Council are due to meet next month to decide if the 25-year contract should be awarded to the preferred bidder, an international waste management firm called AmeyCespa.

The Government has given the go-ahead for 65m in private finance initiative credits to be used for the contract.

Senior officials from both councils have claimed that the proposed plant is vital to avoid millions of pounds in fines for waste ending up in landfill.

They stressed that keeping the status quo is not an option after the Government announced landfill taxes will escalate by 50 per cent by 2015.

However, Mr Adams said that the councils were "taking a huge gamble" if they committed themselves to a 25-year deal with AmeyCespa.

He added: "I have been involved in running businesses throughout my career and if one of my clients came to me and asked to sign a 25-year contract, I would be rubbing my hands with glee.

"I am extremely concerned about the financial commitment over such a long period, it simply does not make sense especially at a time when councils are desperately attempting to save money."

The new plant, which is due to be built between Harrogate and York, is aimed at ensuring the two councils reach a target of recycling at least 50 per cent of waste by 2020.

It will also use mechanical sorting and anaerobic digestion to produce green energy. However, an incinerator is the most contentious element of the proposed scheme, which is projected to save taxpayers up to 320m over 25 years.