05 April 2008

A Regeneration group has given £2,000 towards a campaign opposing expansion of the Eastcroft incinerator.

Nottingham Against Incineration and Landfill (NAIL) have already been given £1,000 by Nottingham jewellers Ice Nine, of Goose Gate.

The extra £2,000, awarded by the Renewal Trust, will be used for legal representation in its battle against the incinerator's expansion.

 

The Renewal Trust aims to improve quality of life in St Ann's and Sneinton :through social, economic, and environmental activities.

However, a spokesperson for the Renewal Trust said the grant does not necessarily mean they support NAIL's political cause.

Cherry Underwood, deputy trust executive, said: "It was given to NAIL to support them in getting some legal advice towards the appeal process.

"The board decided they needed support to get legal advice. Obviously that has a cost in terms of progressing their appeal. We would support any community group in getting advice."

Waste Recycling Group (WRG), operates Eastcroft incinerator, and applied to expand capacity from 150,000 tonnes a year to 250,000 tonnes, for a second time last year.

The original planning application to burn more waste was rejected by the city council in September 2006, after 3,000 opponents signed petitions.

The plans were rejected on the grounds they did not fit in with the Eastside area regeneration scheme,

The revised plan did not reduce amounts of waste to be burned, but did change the cosmetic appearance of the 1970s structure.

But city council planners went over the deadline for making a decision, so WRG asked for it to be made by a planning inquiry, rather than locally.

NAIL successfully applied for "Rule 6 Status", which means they are able to present their case as an interested party.

Both the council and WRG will be represented by barristers at the enquiry.

However, it would cost up to £20,000 for WRG to hire a barrister for the hearing.

Jon Beresford, from NAIL, said: " WRG and the city council will have barristers there because they are fighting planning law. Ideally, we would like a barrister representing us there throughout the enquiry. If we get enough money we will do that."

The group is also looking for someone who would work for reduced fees.