OLDHAM COUNCIL REJECTS PLAN FOR WASTE PLANT IN CHADDERTON - ALCOCK

11.28.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 28th Jul 2009

picture of an Incinerator

Oldham Council has rejected a proposal for a new 'Energy from Waste Plant' to be sited in Chadderton.

The scheme - which would have been located at the Ram and Rugby Mills, off Gorse Street - was set to be included in the consultation proposals put forward as part of the Greater Manchester Waste Joint Development Plan.

That plan is being prepared on behalf of the ten Greater Manchester authorities with the aim of identifying sites across the region that might be suitable for waste disposal.

Councillor Mark Alcock, Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure, said: "We have objected to this proposal being included in this consultation and it has now been dropped."

"We do not believe that this site is suitable for an 'Energy from Waste Plant', which would burn around 100,000 tonnes of household waste. We also do not think that this is the right location for a plant like this given its proximity to the Kingfisher special school and local housing, plus the considerable extra traffic that this development could cause.

"Oldham Council is acutely aware of the importance of identifying sites wherever possible, however this site - put forward by the landowners - is simply not acceptable.

"At the same time as looking for suitable sites it is important that we continue to promote the widest possible range of recycling opportunities that we can for citizens and businesses so that the bare minimum of waste has to be sent to such facilities in the first place.

"New facilities are needed but this location was neither appropriate nor acceptable."