Shock as burning plant plan returns

PLANS to build a controversial waste plant in Chadderton are back on the agenda to the shock of residents and fury of councillors.

It was believed the scheme to burn around 100,000 tonnes of household rubbish at the Ram and Rugby mill site, off Gorse Street, had been buried when it was rejected by Oldham Council in July.

Council chiefs feared the energy-from-waste plant, near Kingfisher School, would impact on residents and cause traffic chaos.

But the site has been reinstated in consultation proposals put forward as part of the Greater Manchester Waste Joint Development Plan, which is being prepared on behalf of the 10 Greater Manchester authorities to identify regional sites that might be suitable for waste disposal.

Oldham Council pledged to fight the proposals after a meeting of the joint committee yesterday when members were told that a revised plan had been submitted by the landowners.

The council had been criticised for not consulting residents previously.

Legal advice has been received stating that it would be inconsistent with established procedures to refuse to seek public views on the proposal. A formal consultation period is now set to run from November 13, until January 8,

Councillor Mark Alcock, cabinet member for environment and infrastructure, said: “We’re very disappointed to be told that this proposal is now to be included in the next stage of consultation.

”We accept the legal advice we were given but I must stress that we remain firmly opposed to any form of waste processing on this site.

Decision

“At this stage this is only being considered as a potentially suitable site and the final decision will depend on a range of factors — including the forthcoming public consultation, which we will publicise details of nearer to the time.

“Given its proximity to Kingfisher special school and local housing, plus the extra traffic the development would cause, we still do not believe this is a suitable location for such a development.

“Oldham Council is very aware of the importance of finding new sites in the region, but this location is not appropriate and we will be urging local residents to express their views when they are consulted later this year.”