The decision to reject plans for a controversial waste incinerator in County Durham have been welcomed by County Durham Labour.
Durham County Council has already rejected the planning application for an energy-from-waste facility at the former Consett steelworks site, but an appeal from developer Project Genesis resulted in a public inquiry last year.
The outcome was due to be announced in March, but was delayed until today, when it was announced the proposals had been rejected by the Secretary of State.
County Durham Labour Leader, Cllr Carl Marshall, said:
“This is a genuine victory for the Consett community’s “Say No” campaign and the local Labour Party who worked alongside them to reject the initial application to the DCC officers who presented the case at the appeal.
“There is a place for energy from waste facilities, but that place certainly isn’t on the doorstep of County Durham families, who would have suffered immeasurably from air pollution, foul smells and increased heavy vehicle traffic had this incinerator been built.
“It’s now time to put this whole episode behind us and focus on a truly low carbon future that embraces cleaner greener renewable energy sources, as we all do our bit in our drive toward zero carbon.”
The proposed “Hownsgill Energy Centre” would have seen the erection of a 50mtr chimney and a plant processing up to 60,000 tonnes of commercial and industrial waste per year.
Over 3,500 objections to the scheme were sent to Durham County Council.