Group's delight at incinerator cash blow

By [jscottow]

Campaigners are claiming a victory against controversial plans for an incinerator near Hedon, after the development hit funding problems.

It comes after East Riding and Hull City councils announced a bid for private finance initiative (PFI) cash to help pay for the waste-burning facility was no longer being considered.

The authorities said the global economic crisis meant the financing option had become "un-affordable".

The councils had been seeking £73.7m of PFI money for the incinerator, proposed for a site at Saltend.

John Dennis, spokesman for the Hull and Holderness Opposing the Incinerator (Hoti) group, welcomed news of the funding blow.

He said: "Hoti regards this decision as very positive. We don't yet feel the war has been won, but a significant battle has gone our way."

Earlier this year, the Environment Agency gave the go-ahead for the incinerator to be built.

However, members of Hoti are preparing a legal challenge, calling on European law to help rip up the contract East Riding and Hull councils have with the incinerator operator, Waste Recycling Group (WRG).

Mr Dennis urged people to turn out in force for a march against the incinerator in Hedon tomorrow.

He said: "We are not foolish enough to think it will be a victory march, but Hoti and our supporters will certainly have a spring in their step."

The councils reiterated their commitment to the incinerator, which they said "remains the chosen method to deal with the councils' residual waste".

John Skidmore, director of energy from waste for the two councils, said: "Our joint waste strategy is based upon recycling 45 per cent and diverting the remaining waste from landfill to an energy-from-waste facility."