A decision on whether to approve plans for a controversial energy-from-waste plant in Hertfordshire has been further delayed 18 months after the application was called in by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles.
Originally approved by Hertfordshire county council in October 2012, Veolias proposed 380,000 tonnes-per-year plant in Hatfield was called in by Mr Pickles following a number of objections from anti-incineration groups (see letsrecycle.com story).
Mr Pickles decision for the site at New Barnsfield was due to be published yesterday (June 26) and would have taken into account views expressed at a six-week public inquiry, following which the planning inspector ruled in favour of the project.
Now, an email circulated by Julian Pitt of the Department of Communities and Local Government yesterday confirmed the decision has been further delayed, with the department apologising for the set back and promising to deliver its verdict as soon as possible.
The Hatfield facility is part of a 25-year, 800 million contract between Veolia and the council, which was signed in August 2011. Defra committed 115.3 million in PFI credits to help fund the development.
The deferment will come as a blow to Veolia, after the contractor had originally envisaged starting construction of the facility in summer 2013.
Anti-campaign
And, campaign group against the project Herts WithOutWaste was also disappointed by the delay but remained hopeful that the Secretary of State may decide in favour of scrapping the facility.
Speaking to letsrecycle.com, founding member of the group David Ashton said: We are obviously disappointed in the delay but obviously it keeps open the fact that it may still not be given the go ahead.
The question is what the delay is about and one suggestion has been that they are trying to make sure they [the government] have a watertight legal case.
Situated on green belt land, plans for the New Barnsfield site have long proved controversial in the area. In 2011, local MP Grant Shapps invited opponents of the project to send donations to the anti-campaign to his local address (see letsrecycle.com story).
When contacted by letsrecycle.com, Veolia said it would not be appropriate to comment at this stage.
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