By Mike Wilkinson
Gloucestershire’s £500 million incinerator plan went up in smoke last night after councillors unanimously threw it out.
An eight year battle to scrap the controversial plant was victorious last night.
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Bye bye incinerator… it’s been thrown out
- And both sides were in disbelief.
Campaigner Sue Oppenheimer, who has led some 4,000 objectors, was hugged and cheered at Kingsholm Stadium as she revelled in the news that all 18 Gloucestershire county councillors voted against the plan by waste firm Urbaser Balfour Beatty.
Council chiefs were left reeling at the all-out verdict with waste champion Stan Waddington, who was nowhere to be seen at last night’s meeting, today expressing his disappointment.
Now attentions will inevitably turn to the multi-million pound contract, touted to be up to £15million, which was signed prematurely by Gloucestershire County Council bosses with Urbaser Balfour Beatty (UBB) before planning permission was given.
Cllr Waddington said: “Obviously, I am disappointed with the decision.
“The county council is committed to delivering an alternative to landfill and we understand that UBB is reviewing the best way forward.”
Javier Peiro, project direct for UBB, also expressed his disappointment – but has confirmed he is considering appealing the decision as well as re-entering talks with the council.
The 11-hour meeting was left on a knife edge as the final blow to the burner was made. An onslaught of attacks throughout the day left officers scrambling to defend the beleaguered plans. But then Liberal Democrat councillor Dennis Andrewartha turned the screw as he proposed its refusal. Then the final nail in the coffin came late last night when councillors delivered their damning verdict.
Our reporter Mike Wilkinson reported live from the meeting and captured reaction to the decision in a series of videos:
Read more: http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/Incinerator-smoke-8-year-battle/story-18492144-detail/story.html#ixzz2Onuv7PnX
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