Incinerator would be so costly to taxpayers (From Worcester News)

Incinerator would be so costly to taxpayers

12:50pm Tuesday 7th February 2012 in Read

SIR – While waiting for the inspector’s report following the public inquiry into the Hartlebury waste incinerator, Worcestershire county councillors and MPs should consider the statement by Kent county councillor Keith Ferrin, cabinet member for environmental and waste services.

Talking about the Allington waste incinerator, he said: “Financially, it’s much better for the taxpayers if Allington doesn’t work.”

Will county councillors be making similar statements in a few years’ time.

A capital cost of £120 million is the figure most frequently quoted in the media but in the outline business case the capital cost alone is put at £166 million.

However, this is chickenfeed compared with the overall cost for the remaining 12 years of the contract.

Looking at the total costs of other private finance initiative projects the cost to the council could be about £1 billion.

This is because there is an annual fee payable to the developers rather like a very expensive mortgage.

This figure does not take account of any changes which could increase costs which will have to be paid for by the county council.

Whatever the inspector recommends, councillors and MPs should lobby Eric Pickles [Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government of the coalition Government] to turn down the planning application which would force Mercia Waste and the county council to look at cheaper and more flexible alternatives for waste treatment.

PHILLIP OLIVER
Wyre Forest Friends of the Earth