Council fights incinerator bid (From thisisoxfordshire)

Council fights incinerator bid

2:50pm Saturday 7th February 2009 in

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A council has pledged to back anti-incinerator campaigners and threatened to take its fight to the “highest authority” if the Ardley proposal goes ahead.

Oxfordshire County Council is due to consider two sites to build incinerators in the county — one at Ardley Fields, near Bicester, and another in Sutton Courtney, near Abingdon.

An incinerator would burn 300,000 tonnes of the county’s waste a year and also generate electricity.

But campaigners are worried about pollution, the risk to health from emissions and the increase in traffic, especially lorries.

Now Cherwell District Council has warned it is prepared to take the matter to the High Court if necessary, if County Hall gives the go ahead to the Ardley Fields site.

Cherwell rejected the proposal on the grounds that a mineral and waste development framework has not been finalised by either council.

It also raised concerns the large chimney stack needed for the incinerator would damage the character and appearance of the surrounding area and the proposal would have an adverse impact on the surrounding roads and environment.

Fred Blackwell, chairman of planning at the district council, said, “There are very strong planning reasons why the incinerator shouldn’t automatically be located in Ardley.

“While we cannot support the Ardley proposal, we are keen to work with our county colleagues to find solutions to waste disposal which are within our planning guidelines.

“We are prepared to use all policy available to prevent the incinerator from being built in Ardley.”

Jonathan O’Neill, chairman of Ardley Against the Incinerator, said: “It’s absolutely fantastic news from Cherwell. It adds massive strength to our campaign.

“A judicial review is a very costly and powerful weapon, so for them to come out in that fashion it is great.

“I don’t think we expected such a unanimous voice.”

Nick Mawer, chairman of Bicester Town Council’s planning committee, said: “I am delighted Cherwell District Council is taking such a strong stand against the planned incinerator at Ardley.

“In addition to the sound planning reasons for objecting to the proposed development, there are many other reasons why we should not be building an incinerator at Ardley.”

He said the town council had grave concerns about the impact on the road network and health issues of the proposal.

Waste management firm Viridor, which already runs a recycling centre and landfill at the site off Middleton Stoney Road, near Bicester, has put forward the proposal for the Ardley site.

County Hall is due to make a final decision later this year.

bicester@oxfordmail.co.uk