Waste firm urged: Come clean over Stanway site (From Essex County Standard)

Waste firm urged: Come clean over Stanway site

11:00am Friday 12th March 2010

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(1)

A COMPANY shortlisted for a £100million contract to dispose of Essex’s waste has been urged to reveal if it plans to build a giant plant in Stanway.

Cory Environmental and partner Skanska Infrastructure Development, is one of seven groups asked by Essex County Council to bid to reduce the amount of rubbish sent to landfill.

County Hall has provisionally been promised £100million from the Government to build new facilities, including at least one mechanical biological treatment plant. Such plants sort waste and use composting and other means to recycle as much of it as possible. Cory won permission in 2007 to build one at Stanway Hall Quarry, in the face of opposition from residents and environmentalists.

Two other sites in Essex also have planning permission. One, in Basildon, is believed to be the favourite, because the county council owns the land. However, a planning inspector also gave a site near Rivenhall the all-clear following a stormy public inquiry.

Chris Brown, spokesman for Cory, said it was still working on plans and could not reveal details.

However, Colin Sykes, chairman of Stanway Parish Council, urged Cory to confirm or deny its proposals would involve Stanway. He said: “We have never been in favour of the major waste plant being in Stanway.

“Unfortunately, Cory has planning permission, so it can build on that site. I would like to know what it’s trying to come up with.”

Resident Peter Thompson, of Stanway Green, said he believed Stanway Hall Quarry would still be put forward as an option. He added: “It’s really just a competition for the county council’s money.”

The county council says such plants are the best way to sort and treat biodegradable waste which cannot be directly recycled. Green campaigners disagree, branding them unnecessary if overall recycling rates can be improved.

Colchester is the only council in Essex which has not yet accepted county’s waste plan, with no agreement expected before the local elections in May.

Tim Young, Colchester councillor responsible for waste, said: “We maintain our opposition to mechanical biological treatment in general. We don’t want to see one in Essex, and if there is to be one, we will move heaven and earth to make sure it isn’t in Colchester.”

Tracey Chapman, county councillor responsible for recycling, said: “We need to increase the amount of waste we are recycling. I am confident by working with the industry experts we can benefit the environment and taxpayers.”

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(1)