Incinerator plans get formal go-ahead
PLYMOUTH'S controversial incinerator has won formal planning approval, after city councillors voted in its favour in December.
German firm MVV Environment Devonport Limited was issued with the planning decision notice on Friday, Plymouth City Council has confirmed.
The notice formally brings the planning decision to an end, and follows a period of public consultation, where fiercely-opposed local residents made final comments to The Environment Agency.
German energy giant MVV will begin work as early as this Spring on the 245,000-tonne energy-from-waste plant at Devonport Dockyard's North Yard.
Paul Barnard, the council's assistant director of planning, said: "This completes the planning application determination process.
"It signals that the applicant has now formally got planning permission as the decision notice has now been issued.
"It also sets out what we would expect in terms of how the building process is managed and to make sure that the construction causes as little inconvenience as possible to the people who live nearby.
"We will be monitoring all the conditions that the planning committee imposed on the developer very carefully to ensure the development meets all the requirements expected of it."
The planning decision notice includes 59 conditions and several legally-binding clauses regarding the plant's construction.
The incinerator will need to gain an operational licence from the Environment Agency before it begins operating, scheduled to be in November 2014.
It will handle rubbish from Plymouth, Torbay and South Devon, solving the problem of what to do with the city's waste.
Since the Chelson Meadow landfill tip closed in 2007, Plymouth has been sending its rubbish to Lean Quarry near Liskeard.
The energy-from-waste plant will run for 24 hours a day, seven days a week, apart from short shut-downs for maintenance.
PLANS to build the incinerator should be put on hold while a new health study is carried out, say city Liberal Democrats, writes Keith Rossiter.
The party has put a question to Plymouth City Council's Cabinet asking whether the council intends to put the incinerator plans on hold given the Health Protection Agency's decision to conduct further research.
19 Comments
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by willems
Wednesday, February 08 2012, 11:07PM
“Enjoy the incinerator,Winston. Goodnight.”
by willems
Wednesday, February 08 2012, 10:54PM
“It's on your profile,no assumption required.”
by flobbalob111
Wednesday, February 08 2012, 10:43PM
“so your real name please willems if you assume you know mine...”
by Winstonsmith0
Wednesday, February 08 2012, 10:41PM
“willems - why should labour resign seats and immediately give up the chance of fighting issues in Plymouth? These people were on the planning committee - something that takes considerable investment of training. How do you propose anyone could have put up a fight at the planning meeting if they all resigned?”
by hjm4l
Wednesday, February 08 2012, 10:35PM
“Apologies for the bad news but as Cllr Pengelly was re-elected in 2010 we are stuck with her until 2014 unless something unforeseen happens.”
by flobbalob111
Wednesday, February 08 2012, 10:05PM
“@willems
"A contract agreed with MVV by Pengelly,Tudor Evans et al,could surely be ripped up if they were no longer in power,couldn't it ? So, on May 3rd,make sure they no longer are. Simples.
PS; I would welcome a legal opinion on this."
well if you want a legal opinion mate put your hand in your pocket and pay for one”
by hjm4l
Wednesday, February 08 2012, 9:30PM
“As Cllr Delbridge and Cllr Lock are both up for re-election in May it will be interesting to see if their constituents put the whole of Plymouth as a priority and not just their own area as this incinerator will be detrimental to all who live here and will affect everyone.”
by willems
Wednesday, February 08 2012, 9:12PM
“Winston. If the Labour faction were so against,why did they not resign their seats in protest.
Could it be that their present nest is so comfortable,they dare not leave ?
After all,meaningful dissent over this,would have placed them in a far better light,rather than
the rollover attitude they have always displayed.”
by olddogbreath
Wednesday, February 08 2012, 7:38PM
“So much for democracy then?”
by Winstonsmith0
Wednesday, February 08 2012, 6:36PM
“@willems
Might I just point this information out in the name of fairness and transparency;
only the 7 TORY planning councillors agreed to the incinerator being built;
Cllr Thomas Browne of Southway
Cllr Nigel Churchill of Plymstock Dunstone
Cllr Edward Delbridge of Moor View
Cllr Wendy Foster of Plymstock Radford
Cllr John Lock of Plymton Erle
Cllr Lynda Bowyer of Egbuckland
Cllr Ken Foster of Plymstock
All the other councillors (Labour) voted AGAINST it!
Regardless of our political leanings, lets be clear. Tories were 100% FOR the incinerator and Labour were 100% AGAINST. For now, we have a Tory led council.
Personally I think it was a predetermined outcome. Far too many happy coincidences during the process. I know who I will vote for at the forthcoming elections - despite the promised new road surfaces!
Plymouth - heart of the Wastecountry”