ON THE BACK BURNER
■Inquiryinto‘monsterincinerator’adjournedforthreemonths ■MP Sharon Hodgson claims ‘a victory for the little people’
An inquiry into a controversial waste plant plan has been paused to allow for talks which could see the proposals shelved.
In recent years, thousands of people have raised concerns about a proposed gasification plant at Hillthorn Park in Washington.
The centre aims to create energy from waste using high temperatures to break down materials without combustion.
Applicant Rolton Kilbride have previously defended the process, saying the technology has been ‘tried and tested’ in other countries including Japan.
Since the plans were lodged in 2017, more than 10,000 peoplehave signed petition sin opposition, with campaigners dubbing the plans a ‘monster incinerator’.
This week, an appeal hearing was launched at the Stadium of Light to examine Sunderland City Council’s decision to reject the plans last year.
Although the hearings were expected to last almost two weeks, the process was stalled after it was revealed the council and appellant are having ‘commercial talks’.
If a settlement is reached, the meeting heard, the appeal could be withdrawn.
Planning inspector Mike Robins agreed to adjourn the hearings until June.
The move has been welcomed by campaigners and Washington and Sunderland West MP, Sharon Hodgson, who has raised the gasification plant in Parliament.
Speaking after the decision, she described it as “a victory for the little people fighting against the monster incinerator.”
Washington and Wearside Against Gasification Group campaigner, Sandra Noble, said she was “thrilled” with the adjournment.
“If it can be resolved in an ami cable way that is absolutely fabulous,” she said.
“We don’t want [the waste plant] there, we’re thinking about our kids and grandchildren who would want to live near there.”
Plans were rejected by the city council’s Planning and Highways Committee in July 2019, against the advice of planning officers.
Concerns raised by opponents included the impact on traffic, health and air quality.
Green Party councillor for Washington South, Dom Armstrong, added :“We’ re cautiouslyoptimistic that this will be the beginning of the end for the incinerator.”