£100m hotel developers attack Yorkshire waste plant project

The company behind the proposals for the five-star Flaxby Country Resort near Knaresborough are the latest opponents to launch a scathing attack on the proposals for the multi-million-pound waste management plant in North Yorkshire.

The site earmarked for the waste plant at Allerton Park sits next to the A1 and close to where the hotel will be built at a gateway to some of the region's most prized tourism destinations, including York, Harrogate and the Yorkshire Dales.

Directors from the Skelwith Group have already met with the Harrogate and Knaresborough MP, Andrew Jones, and Selby and Ainsty MP Nigel Adams, whose constituencies will be affected by the waste plant.

The Skelwith Group was given planning permission by Harrogate Council in March to build the luxury hotel, expected to create up to 650 jobs.

The York-based company's managing director, Paul Ellis, is also writing to Welcome to Yorkshire about his concerns over how the plant will impinge on the region's tourism industry, which is worth more than 6bn a year.

Mr Ellis said: "We feel that there are plenty of other locations where the plant could be based and it is not simply about the effect it will have on the Flaxby development, it will have a far greater impact on the whole of North Yorkshire.

"The location is right next to a gateway to some of the tourism gems which the region has to offer.

"It will certainly not be sending out the right message to have a huge incinerator greeting visitors to Yorkshire, and I would urge a complete re-think."

Mr Ellis echoed the views of campaigners who have claimed the introduction of the incinerator by North Yorkshire County Council and York Council will be a missed opportunity to boost recycling rates.

Campaigners from the North Yorkshire-based pressure group, Disc, which was established to block incineration in the county, say the scheme imposes a "financial straitjacket" on the two councils at a time when public sector funding is being slashed by the Government.

The Yorkshire Post revealed last week that Disc's chairman, David Andrews, believes that far greater efforts should be made to ensure individuals took more responsibility for recycling themselves.

But the Allerton Waste Recovery Park's project director, Bill Jarvis, said similar schemes had been introduced at other major tourism destinations around the world, including Barcelona and Vienna.

He added: "We also recognise tourism in North Yorkshire is big business, attracting millions of visitors a year – so we have to find a sustainable and economic long term solution to deal with the additional waste this generates.

"Investing in alternative forms of waste treatment now will mean fewer new landfill sites are needed in the future, reducing the impact of waste management across the county."

Detailed plans for the project spanning the next 25 years were unveiled last week under a 900m deal which will be the biggest contract ever awarded by the two councils.

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 the next quarter of a century.

A public consultation is under way and construction could begin at the end of next year if planning permission is secured.