The first stage of an official response to plans for a waste incinerator to be built in the Fens is being prepared by King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council.
Although it has publicly stated it is against it, the council has to give a formal response to the plans for the new facility near Wisbech.
Stuart Dark MBE, leader of the borough council, said: “Technically, we are being asked whether the applicant has met their legal obligations in doing what they said they were going to do with regard to consultation. But for us there is so much more to it than doing the legal minimum.
“10 years ago a plan to build a smaller incinerator at Saddlebow was put forward. Local feeling was strong – it is a subject that still resonates on the doorstep – and now another proposal has been submitted in a nearby area where prevailing winds will drift over this borough. Bearing in mind this background, I believe all this concern and wider impact should have been taken into account when setting the parameters and geographical area of the consultation in determining who should be consulted.
“We aren’t the decision maker for this application, that is the Government’s Planning Inspectorate. But, as a statutory consultee, we will be scrutinising this extremely carefully to ensure that our residents’ views are heard at every stage. And to ensure that this is a fully transparent process we are taking it to our planning committee for them to consider.
The application, by Medworth CHP Limited, is for a Combined Heat and Power Waste Facility near Wisbech. It was submitted on 7 July and planning inspectors are currently deciding whether to consider the application. They will make the decision rather than the council as it is considered to be a nationally important project.