Incinerator inquiry next spring

A PUBLIC inquiry will be held into controversial waste plans which earmark Newhaven as the best site for an incinerator.

This follows a decision by Brighton and Hove City and East Sussex County Councils not to make any further changes to the draft Waste Local Plan.

During the latest public consultation more than 5,500 objections were received. However, no significantly new issues were raised and members of both councils decided the public inquiry should start as soon as possible.

Cllr Tony Reid, county council lead cabinet member for transport and environment, said most of the comments raised concerns about using Energy from Waste (incinerator) technologies.

'These concerns had already been raised during the first consultation on the Waste Local Plan and we didn't make any changes then as we firmly believe that Energy from Waste has a role to play in managing waste that can't practically be re-used or recycled.

'Since then our position hasn't changed,' he said.

Changes

Cllr Chris Morley, chairman of Brighton and Hove City Council's environment committee, added: 'Altogether, nearly 20,000 individuals and organisations commented on the two drafts of the Waste Local Plan.

'Processing these and deciding whether to make any changes has been a mammoth task. I'm therefore really pleased that we are still on track with getting to the public inquiry as soon as possible next year, when everyone's views will be considered by the Inspector.'

The public inquiry is due to start in late spring 2003. A government inspector will examine the objections made to the plan during the two consultation stages and the councils will defend the plan's policies and proposals.

As a result of the inquiry inspector's recommendations, further modifications to the plan may be necessary which would then undergo further public consultation.