Tory incinerator plan now has more holes than a colander

10.10.10am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 6th Dec 2007

Another gaping hole has appeared in the Tory County Council's plan for an incinerator in Newhaven. The pollution permit for the scheme has been withdrawn after the Environment Agency accepted that it had failed to demonstrate that it had taken into account the polluting effects of carbon dioxide.

A new consultation exercise will now have to be undertaken by the Agency. The admission came as part of a legal challenge undertaken by Newhaven resident Nicola Day.

Newhaven MP Norman Baker comments: "The Tories hated incinerator plan is developing more holes than a colander. First they ignored local people's objections to the plan, then we find out the cost has doubled and now we find that the pollution permit is flawed. They haven't listened to local people, will they now listen to the courts?"

The judgement, in a judicial review at the High Court in London, means that there will have to be a new public consultation, in light of the important information missing on these emissions. This will buy vital time for the thousands of local people who oppose the scheme to fight the proposal further. It is not yet clear whether this new consultation will just refer to the carbon dioxide emissions, or to wider aspects of the plan.

Norman adds: "It is important that any new evidence also includes carbon dioxide emissions from the lorries which will transport the waste to the incinerator as it is not clear that this has been considered."