Sit-in forces councillors to move

COUNCILLORS changed rooms in Brighton Town Hall after anti-incinerator protestors refused to leave before a confidential debate.

COUNCILLORS changed rooms in Brighton Town Hall after anti-incinerator protestors refused to leave before a confidential debate.

Brighton and Hove Council and East Sussex County Council were discussing a controversial 1 billion waste contract.

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They were trying to move to a confidential part of the meeting when the protest came.

Councillors left the chamber and re-assembled elsewhere amid slow hand-clapping and whistling.

Joelle van Tinteren of the pressure group Defenders of the Ouse Valley and Estuary said: 'We were told we could not listen to a decision that affects our lives. Is it any surprise that we didn't want to leave our seats?'

The joint councils decided that, on the basis of current information, the tender from Onyx Aurora offered a better potential outcome than the rival bid from Viridor-Tiru.

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Cllr Tony Reid, East Sussex member for the environment, said: 'I am very pleased that we have got to the position of working more closely with one company to finalise the contract.

'The tender from Onyx Aurora is seen to offer the best potential solution, subject to final negotiations, in terms of environmental impact, cost, and sharing of risks.

'There is still a lot of work to do before a contract could be finally awarded, and almost certainly some details will have to change, which is why we cannot give out all the details yet.'

Locations of facilities identified in the preferred tender are: Energy from Waste - North Quay, Newhaven

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Materials recycling facility with waste transfer station - Hollingdean, Brighton

Enclosed composting - Golden Cross, Hailsham

Waste transfer station and possible household waste recycling site - Maresfield Camp, Maresfield

Waste transfer station, possibly including a new household waste recycling site - Pebsham.

If negotiations go well and offer the best value for the public, it is expected that the contract will be awarded in the New Year. The contractor will have to apply for planning permission for each facility. On the basis of the Waste Local Plan going to public inquiry next year, it is envisaged that decisions regarding major facilities will be taken with the benefit of an Inspector's report.