INCINERATOR: Burner fight into overdrive
PROTESTERS against the incinerator project say they are in a strong position as a second consultation on the plans is launched.
More than 100 people crowded into a public meeting on Sunday to hear future moves against plans to build an incinerator on the Willows Business Park in Saddlebow, Lynn.
Norfolk County Council has started a second planning consultation into the plans and notices have gone up around Saddlebow, days after secretary of state Caroline Spelman agreed to release waste infrastructure credits.
This 28-day consultation will focus on further information received from developer Cory Wheelabrator, which is now available at the county’s website, and it closes on Monday, February 20.
Campaigner Michael de Whalley is urging people to go online and make comments on this second information document, which he says was compiled after the first round of public consultation.
He said: “It is important that people look through this second document.
“If people disagree with what Cory Wheelabrator has said it is vital they make further representations.”
Fellow campaigner Mike Knights said it was encouraging to see more than 100 people at the meeting at Fairgreen Farms, Middleton.
At the meeting, members of the King’s Lynn Without Incineration, known as KLWIN, outlined the the planning process and how to object.
Mr Knights said: “There is still hope we can stop this project in the planning and licensing stage.”
People also urged to attend West Norfolk Council’s full meeting at 6.30pm on Thursday, in the Lynn Town Hall’s assembly room.
Mr Knights said some people were under a wrong impression the campaign was lost after the judicial review bid failed in December.
He said people in the area had rallied around to help pay the £15,000 legal bill incurred by Mr de Whalley as a result of the action.
He said: “It is clear that in many cases people do not appreciate what a strong position we are still in with regard to stopping the thing.
“It is not as if we have fired all our best shots and we have missed, far from it. We have made some good progress and we are well-placed to build on that.”
Norfolk County Council says more than 3,000 letters will go out to statutory consultees, including parish councils, and people who registered an interest in the application.
Cabinet member for planning and transportation Graham Plant said: “A planning application was submitted to the authority in June and a public consultation followed.
“After thorough scrutiny of the application our planning officers wrote to the applicant asking for further information and clarification on a number of points. That information has now been received and it is this that will form the basis of this second consultation.
“We are required to consult for 21 days but given the complex nature of this application we are extending this to 28 days. Once again the county council is keen to hear views from as many people as possible and all views are welcome.”
The county said that it will respond to acknowledge receipt of all comments and that these will be considered by officers preparing a recommendation for planners.
People can comment on the council’s website, www.norfolk.gov.uk/willowsplanningprocess
Alternatively email: willowsprc@norfolk.gov.uk or write to Planning Services, Environment, Transport and Development, Norfolk County Council, County Hall, Martineau Lane, Norwich NR1 2UD,
Copies of the further information and updated application will be placed at county hall, West Norfolk council offices in Chapel Street, Lynn. Libraries in Lynn, Gaywood, Dersingham, Hunstanton, Downham and Swaffham will also be stocking the documents.
Last week Government officials insisted that the Saddlebow proposal had met their criteria for the release of up to £91 million of waste infrastructure credits, though county council leaders say the award will be worth £169 million.
West Norfolk council leader Nick Daubney confirmed last week the council was looking to pursue its own judicial review claim.
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