News080706

Councillors are calling for a public inquiry into the Eastcroft incinerator expansion plans.

Conservatives and Liberal Democrats on Nottingham City Council joined forces to demand an independent investigation.

A £50m expansion of the city incinerator would increase rubbish burned there from 150,000 tonnes to 250,000 tonnes a year

An application by incinerator owners Waste Recycling Group is due to go before the council's development control committee on July 19.

But now, the opposition political groups have put down two motions for a meeting of the full council, two days before the planning hearing, to call for a public inquiry.

Conservative Leader Coun Georgina Culley said: "Before any decision is made there should be a public inquiry in which everyone can take part."

Councillors are concerned about the impact of the expansion. It is estimated up to 100 lorries a day will come and go. They also say the council has a vested interest in the expansion because EnviroEnergy, owned by the city council, takes steam from the plant to provide heating and electricity to homes.

In a joint statement, the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives said: "We have taken this step to ensure that the final decision on the application to extend the incinerator will be taken independently.

"The council has a major financial stake in the incinerator. Expansion of the burning capacity could produce large profits for the council. A very large number of objections to the application to extend the incinerator have been received from residents and environmental groups."

The groups say they believe incineration to be better than landfill, but want to see a greater proportion of recycling.

Liberal Democrat leader on the council Coun Gary Long said: "WRG should be setting up on site, sorting and recycling, not bringing in more household waste from miles away to incinerate."

The first motion calls for the decision on the expansion of Eastcroft to be suspended until after a public inquiry.

If that fails a second motion will be moved calling for an inquiry if the planning application is approved.

The Lib Dems and Tories say they have taken legal advice and their motions are acceptable within the planning rules.

The Labour group also opposes the expansion of the incinerator, but has not decided if a motion calling for a public inquiry is the best way to block it.

Council leader Coun Jon Collins said the Labour group would also seek clarification of the legality of the move.

He said: "

They risk making it more rather than less likely the incinerator gets planning permission to expand based on a decision taken outside of the city [at a public inquiry]."

He denied his group had a financial interest in expanding the plant.