Lib Dems say NO to incineration and vote against Tory waste strategy

11.03.49pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 16th Jul 2008

No to massive incinerators

Liberal Democrats at Essex County Council have voted against Tory plans to build enormous waste treatment plants in Essex, including one north of Chelmsford at Rivenhall. The vote was taken after a debate on waste at county hall on 15 July.

Chelmsford West Councillor Ian Gale (Lib Dem spokesman for recycling) said: "We have repeatedly raised our concerns over the Conservatives' plans to deal with waste in the future. We oppose the massive waste treatment plants favoured by the Tories, as these plants need constant feeding and that is likely to discourage more recycling.

"We believe that the recycling targets set by the administration are too timid and this view is backed up by an independent Commission that looked at the Conservative proposals. We also have concerns about the proposed finance arrangements of these plans.

"The plan is for private finance funding and we have strong reservations about the success of this type of funding, especially as it will lock the council into inflexible 25-30 year contracts. We had no hesitation in voting against these proposals which do not serve the best interests of residents."