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In a confidential interim report, investigator Steffan Evans told theCardiff Against the Incinerator (Cati) group that the Viridor plan is of "considerable importance with potentially significant environmental implications for the immediate and wider ...
Exclusive: Incinerator plan a load of rubbish
Monday 14 November 2011
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EmailCardiff County Council's failure to notify and consult residents and businesses over a proposed waste incinerator in Splott amounts to "maladministration," the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales has concluded.
In a confidential interim report, investigator Steffan Evans told the Cardiff Against the Incinerator (Cati) group that the Viridor plan is of "considerable importance with potentially significant environmental implications for the immediate and wider locality."
Because Cardiff council had not tried to inform the residents in the Galleon Way apartment blocks and nearby businesses, Mr Evans concluded that "the consultation was inadequate and amounted to maladministration on the part of the Council."
He is now asking the council to "revisit its consultation procedure relating to planning applications of this kind so as to avoid a recurrence of the issues arising this case."
But the Ombudsman admitted that even if local people had been fully and properly consulted, it would not have added to the 21 different types of objection already lodged against the Viridor scheme.
"It's an astonishing conclusion," remarked Cati secretary Ed Schussel, "as though 21 different grounds for objection are not enough, while the sheer size of public objection counts for nothing."
He added: "This dismissal of local opinion flies directly in the face of the Localism Bill going through the Westminster parliament and the central government's decision last week to halt a similar Norfolk County Council scheme because of local opposition."
Mr Schussel urged Welsh Environment Minister John Griffiths not to "lag behind" developments in England.
"It is becoming clear that incineration is an unhealthy, costly and inefficient waste disposal option which undermines recycling," he said.
The Welsh government is offering an annual £9 million subsidy to the Prosiect Gwyrdd (Project Green) consortium of five local authorities which will choose next year which of the two schemes to support.
Two weeks ago, the project suffered a blow when a third bidder, Covanta, withdrew its planning application for a giant incinerator at Brig-y-Cwm near Merthyr Tydfil, citing "commercial circumstances" relating to Welsh local authorities.
Campaigners from Cardiff and Newport are protesting at the National Assembly of Wales tomorrow at 12 noon against the incineration schemes earmarked for their cities.
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