Council will ‘robustly’ defend its decision to refuse incinerator plan

A WEST Yorkshire council has said it will “robustly” defend its decision to refuse a company permission to build an incinerator at one of its recycling sites.

Calderdale Council will defend its decision to refuse Calder Valley Skip Hire permission to develop a small waste incineration plant (SWIP) at its Belmont works in Sowerby Bridge at a public inquiry into the decision.

The company has appealed to the Planning Inspectorate to overturn the refusal and the resulting inquiry is likely to last at least three days.

Yesterday, Calderdale Council’s Planning Committee discussed the appeal in private, with public and press not allowed to be present.

But after the meeting, the committee chair, Coun Steve Sweeney (Lab, Todmorden) told reporters the decision.

“The council will robustly defend its decision to refuse planning permission to Calder Valley Skip Hire at a public inquiry, which is likely to be held in the new year,” he said.

According to Halifax MP Holly Lynch, who also opposes the proposals, defending the decision against legal challenge with its associated costs could cost “hundreds of thousands of pounds” and she has asked a Government Minister to intervene.

The proposals have been controversial, with cross-party and public opposition, focused through the Benbow Group, against the plans on environmental grounds, particularly air quality. But the company argues its proposals meet the required standards and the plant, if allowed, will reduce the amount of material it currently has to send over long distances to landfill and as such would be an environmental improvement.