Council to seek JR over Government award of PFI credits to incinerator project
King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council is to bring judicial review proceedings over the government’s decision to confirm the award of PFI credits to a waste incinerator proposed by Norfolk County Council.
At a full council meeting last Thursday, the Borough Council said it noted “with considerable disappointment and regret” the decision taken by Caroline Spelman, Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
The item tabled at the meeting said: “The Borough Council does not believe that the project, in any way, commands a broad consensus of support. Indeed since the Secretary of State initially expressed concern on this issue, support for the project has, if anything diminished.
“Across Norfolk there is little evidence of support for mass burn incineration as a technology of first resort for waste disposal outside of the confines of the officers and Members of Norfolk County Council.”
West Norfolk also expressed “considerable regret” that some district councils had reaffirmed their support for the Norfolk Waste Strategy. However, it pointed out that the strategy did not advocate incineration as a preferred means of waste treatment.
The Borough Council also welcomed the opposition to incineration expressed to the Secretary of State by Norwich City Council.
If the incinerator goes ahead, the facility will be built at Saddlebow, King’s Lynn.
West Norfolk ordered its officers to examine the basis of Spelman’s decsion and to formally commence “the essential and necessary steps to apply for a judicial review of that decision”.
It also called on Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, to call in the matter for determination.
Responding to the government’s decision earlier this month, Bill Borrett, Norfolk CC’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Waste, claimed that the grant would substantially reduce the cost of a proposed new service for dealing with Norfolk residents' waste.
“It also reflects the Government's opinion that projects such as this will help the country meet its European landfill diversion targets,” he said.
Cllr Borrett added: “This is another, very positive step forward for this important project, but with the planning and Environmental Permitting processes underway, and contract arrangements for the new service still to be finalised, there is still some way to go.
“I understand the Secretary of State's concern to see us 'work collaboratively and constructively with local interests to maximise the project's potential benefits for sustainable waste management, local employment and regeneration, and to minimise reasons for local concern'. We will do our very best to ensure this happens.”
