Revealed: where fees from incinerator go
THE Weekly News can reveal how £427,000 of gate fees from a Runcorn waste incinerator has been spent since it opened.
The details were uncovered using a Freedom Of Information (FoI) request.
The biggest amounts of funding were £193,746 for the community payback team to carry out clean-up projects, and £160,000 for improvements at Runcorn Hill Park.
The spending also included £27,600 for air quality monitoring.
Under the conditions of the permission for the incinerator in Weston Point, its operators pay £50 to Halton Borough Council for every ton of waste burned.
Data was provided by Andrew Plant, Halton Council principal planner, in response to the request.
The FoI request revealed that the council has spent £427,085.60 of funding so far on the following projects: ● Improvements at Runcorn Hill Park, £160,000. ● Clearance of Dukesfield garage on behalf of Runcorn Locks Restoration Society, £2,500. ● A five-year contribution for the community payback team to provide extra cleaning or environmental maintenance and support for clean-up initiatives, £193,746 ● To close the lay-by on Weston Point Expressway following residents’ complaints, £12,000. ● A two-year programme to support the community ● garden in Runcorn town centre, £24,000. ● Creation of a running and walking route around Runcorn Hill Park, including boards and signing, £7,239.60 ● Air quality monitoring in Weston for 12 months, £27,600.
The environmental fund was predicted to pay for around £500,000 of projects a year when it was proposed. Halton Council administers the distribution of the cash.
Residents can also apply for smaller grants of up to £20,000 via the Viridor Credits scheme.
The energy-from-waste incinerator is operated by Viridor on behalf of the client Inovyn for its energy-intensive chemical works.