Joy as Ford incinerator plan stalls

PLANS for an incinerator plant in Ford have stalled after a top Government minister got involved.

The Minister for Local Government, Kris Hopkins has called in the decision by West Sussex County Council which approved the incinerator site at Ford Airfield earlier this year.

The move means the application is in limbo while Mr Hopkins gets personally involved with the case.

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He will now ultimately decide whether or not to rubber stamp the controversial facility.

Bognor Regis and Littlehampton MP Nick Gibb wrote to the minister after receiving concerns from Ford Parish Council about the application process.

Speaking on Mr Hopkins’ move, Mr Gibb said he was ‘very pleased’ by the news

“I have long been a supporter of the residents of Ford and Climping in this campaign,” he said yesterday (Wednesday). “I think the incinerator is in the wrong place.

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“It’s on the edge of an area of outstanding natural beauty – the South Downs National Park – and in the middle of a residential area.

“The stainless steel chimney will be an unsightly blot on the landscape of Ford. It shouldn’t be there.”

Mr Hopkins’ move was revealed by Ford Parish Council on Tuesday.

Parish council chairman Trevor Ford, said: “We have pushed and pushed for months to stop this application coming to Ford.

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“An incinerator there it would reduce the quality of life of residents living near it.

“No one wants to live there next to a site which is burning waste and pumping out fumes.”

Applicant Grundon Waste Management had hoped to develop the former Tarmac Topblock.

Its plan could have seen waste materials including plastics, being burned in a state-of-the-art incinerator.

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The facility could have handled 200,000 tonnes of largely commercial and industrial waste at the 6.5 hectare site per year.

Mr Gibb has been critical of the planning process by the county council, who he said was in an ‘invidious position’ as the authority both looking for a new waste facility and the one in charge of approving such a site.

A county council spokesman said the plans were now ‘up in the air’.

“The Government has not decided yet one way or the other whether it will approve our original decision.”