Call for public inquiry into recycle plant bid

11:52am Tuesday 5th December 2006

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MID-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff is calling for a public inquiry into proposals for a controversial recycling plant set for the village of Norton, near Worcester.

Mr Luff has lent his support to an action group set up to fight Mercia Waste Management's plans for the centre and has written to the communities and local government secretary, Ruth Kelly, asking her to call the application in for a public inquiry.

"Local people feel that the process has been rather rushed and they have not been properly consulted," he said. "The county council is in a very difficult position of being judge and jury in its own case, so I think there's a very strong case for a public inquiry."

In September, the Worcester News revealed that residents of Norton and surrounding parishes were so concerned about the plans for the recycling centre, they formed an action group to fight the application, which is due to be heard by the county council's planning committee on Tuesday, December 12.

Since then there have been several public meetings packed with hundreds of residents.

David Crosby, of neighbouring village Littleworth, said: "Peter Luff has agreed to try and intervene with the minister of state to have the hearing on the 12th stopped and replaced by a public inquiry.

"We think we will get a fairer hearing from a public inquiry than we will from the planning committee at the county council who have got hugely vested interests in promoting this scheme. It's very difficult for them to sit down on December 12 and take an unbiased decision on the merits and demerits of this particular decision when they know if they turn it down it could have serious financial implications for the county council."

Mr Crosby said the planning committee is due to visit Norton on Monday, December 11, to look at the site and surrounding area.

"We are organising a peaceful protest to welcome them to Norton, which will simply take the form of people out on the street with placards," he added. "We are not planning any blocking of the roads. We just want to show how strong the feeling is in the village."

Chairman of the planning committee, Councillor Bob Bullock, said the committee operates according to government guidelines.

"The committee has a cross-party membership and is one of the only committees within the county council," he said.

"It is not guided by the cabinet in any way.

"The idea that we would not refuse an application because of the fear of incurring costs is a complete red herring. We have no consideration for the financial side at all."

Worcester MP Mike Foster said that he felt the matter was something best left to the local constituency MPs.