Tory angered as incinerator public meeting blocked

A motion calling for a full public debate on the proposals for the plant, which includes an incinerator in the heart of North Yorkshire's countryside, was voted down during a meeting of North Yorkshire County Council.

Coun John Savage, who stood down as the council's chairman in May, was the only Tory to vote for the motion, which was proposed by Liberal member Coun John Clark during the meeting on Wednesday. The motion was supported by 16 councillors, but there were 41 votes against and two members abstained.

While a series of smaller public meetings are due to be held in September, Coun Savage maintained that a major forum would have provided a more informed debate.

Coun Savage, who represents the Ainsty division where the plant is due to be built, between York and Harrogate, said: "This is a sorry day for democracy and transparency, and campaigners have a right to feel frustrated and angry by this decision and some of the dubious reasons given for it.

"It is not simply about wanting to oppose the scheme, it is about providing an informed debate. A public meeting would have ensured that all sides would be able to present their arguments.

"What is being proposed now is a series of meetings which will only spell out one side of the debate, which is not providing the public with a rounded view of the proposals."

Campaigners have argued a greater emphasis should be placed on increasing recycling rates rather than relying on an incinerator to burn a large proportion of the rubbish.

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

The issue will be discussed during the council's area meetings with the public in September, and representatives from 11 parish councils close to the Allerton Park site are being invited to an event in August.

Coun Wood said: "We are holding meetings the length and breadth of the county, and I cannot think of a better way to get the message out to the public.

"We want to listen to people's views and act on them before a final decision is made on the preferred bidder for the scheme in the autumn."

Bid to avoid huge landfill taxes

The waste management plant earmarked for North Yorkshire is aimed at preventing millions of pounds of taxpayers' money being spent on landfill taxes.

Households across the county produce about 470,000 tonnes of waste a year with 55 per cent ending up in landfill.

The Government has announced landfill taxes will escalate by 50 per cent by 2015.

The new plant is aimed at ensuring at least 50 per cent of waste is recycled by 2020.