Grundon EfW plant planning permission under review

But, strong warnings have been issued to the borough already by its own finance officer that should the council try to withdraw permission, it could see Grundon seeking damages of up to 200 million. If this were to happen, the borough could be in breach of its duties to provide statutory services for residents as it would become bankrupt should it have to pay out.

Elections

The potential rethink by the borough comes in the wake of elections in June which saw some new councillors calling for a reassessment of the planning permission. Strong lobbying has come from the Slough anti-incineration network which has given strong warnings about alleged health affects of energy from waste plants and also dismissed the conclusions of the report by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs earlier this year. This report broadly found there was little likelihood of any harm from energy from waste plants.

The borough council has already commissioned one study from Lord Kingsland, a leading QC, following a vote that required officers to look into the legal possibilities and ramifications of revoking planning permission.

Compensation

The Lord Kingsland report this summer found that compensation would be an “amount of substantial proportions” and estimates went up to 200 million.
As the council budget annually is 146 million, under section 151 of the Local Government Act, a local authority cannot incur expenditure that would breach its statutory duties and so the council officer responsible for section 151 has warned that incurring such compensation could be illegal.

Now another environmental lawyer has prepared a second report which is being kept confidential ahead of a special council meeting likely to be held later this month.

Procedures

A spokeswoman for the council said that the borough was aware that proper procedures had been followed four years ago and she pointed out that there was local support for the plant, including from the parish council involved.
Slough currently has a recycling rate ranging on a monthly basis of 15-18% and is to start green waste collections soon. Initiatives by the council include on-street recycling bins for cans and plastic bottles.

Democratic

A spokeswoman for Grundon said: “The company has been through the democratic process with its proposals for the plant. We have obtained PPC permission and we are pressing on with our plans for the site. Construction will start in the near future.”