Public getting chance to view plans for waste recovery plant

Grassroots meetings to be staged throughout September are being heralded as a defining moment in the battle to create the multi-million pound waste management plant, including an incinerator, in the heart of North Yorkshire's countryside.

Both campaigners opposed to the scheme and senior officials behind the proposals have admitted that the meetings will provide one of the last opportunities to spell out what the proposed plant will mean before a decision is reached in October.

North Yorkshire County Council is organising the meetings to outline details of the proposed waste management plant at Allerton Park, between York and Harrogate.

The council's corporate director for business and environmental services, David Bowe, said: "It's very important to us that everyone has the opportunity to learn about the proposed Allerton Waste Recovery Park.

"What is absolutely clear is that we need to move away from landfill as soon as we can, and find a solution which recognises the value of waste as a resource.

"We are taking account of what people are telling us about the proposal and we will include their views in the report on contract award which will go to council later this year.

"The feedback from the area committees will be an important part of this process."

Mr Bowe stressed that the business case was scrutinised by the Government before Ministers gave the go-ahead for 65m in private finance initiative credits to be used for the overall 900m development.

However, campaigners have voiced grave concerns over the scheme as it will rely heavily on incineration and claimed the project is a missed opportunity to boost recycling rates.

Fears have also been expressed that the plans for the proposed plant are being railroaded through before the county council and York Council vote on the proposals in October.

A motion calling for a full public debate on the scheme was voted down during a meeting of the county council last month.

However, the council's executive member for waste disposal, Coun Clare Wood, was adamant that the public was being fully briefed about the plans.

The Yorkshire Post revealed last week that veteran county councillor John Savage had resigned from the Tory group on the authority after expressing deep misgivings about the 25-year waste management strategy.

Coun Savage said: "The meetings are the next best thing to giving the public the chance to see exactly what the waste management strategy will entail. We had called for the full public debate for all sides to give their opinions, but that has not been permitted.

"This is an opportunity for the public to ask questions both on the financial and environmental implications, and it is now in the people's hands to make their voices heard."

The council's next round of area committee meetings are being used to showcase the waste management strategy, with the first event due to be held in Hambleton on September 6 at Helperby Millennium Village Hall from 2pm.

Later meetings will be: Craven district in Bolton Abbey Village Hall from 10am; Selby district at the Regent Centre in Riccall on September 13 from 6pm; Ryedale at Norton Indoor Bowls Club on September 15 from 10.30am; Yorkshire Coast and Moors in Whitby Pavilion the following day at 4pm; Richmondshire in Colburn Leisure Centre on September 22 from 10am; Harrogate district the same day at the Old Swan Hotel in the spa town at 4pm.