People Against Incineration (PAIN), the Rainworth (Sherwood Forest) based campaign group is pleased to announce:

The planning decision went our way big time, with Newark & Sherwood District Council not only objecting, but saying that if Nottinghamshire County Council approves Veolia’s incinerator application they (the District Council) would ask for a public inquiry, and if the Secretary of State doesn’t grant a public inquiry, Newark & Sherwood District Council would take advice on a legal challenge (judicial review)

See the BBC live news report

See another video interview and some local newspaper photographs

Reasons for objecting included:

In view of the conclusion from the carbon assessments by the applicant and the EA, that there are other options that produce a better impact on carbon emissions (including ERF with combined heat and power), it is not considered that the applicants have justified the suitability of the scheme on Greenfield land in the open countryside.

By virtue of the restoration conditions attached to the site…it is technically classed as a Greenfield site and indeed is required to be restored to natural heathland and woodland. It is also located within the open countryside.

For both these reasons, the proposals would be contrary to a number of development plan policies and, in particular, it would be a departure from Local Plan Policy NE1 and JSP Policy 2/10.

The proposals have been submitted in isolation from the rest of the former colliery site and, at present, there are no planning approvals (or indeed, planning applications) in place for employment development and nor is it allocated for such a use in the Local Plan or the emerging LDF.

The proposals that have been submitted, do not demonstrate that the benefits of the scheme would justify the visual impact on the landscape of the area and on Greenfield land in the open countryside.

Such a justification might exist if the scheme were part of a comprehensive redevelopment of the former colliery site that included the provision for a waste management facility comprising incineration with combined heat and power.

Currently, however, this is not the case.

Indeed, the site selection process is unduly influenced by the emphasis placed on what may or may not occur on the adjoining land in the future.

The rejection of alternative sites within urban areas has not been adequately justified and I consider that there is insufficient certainty over the future of the adjoining land to agree with the degree of emphasis being placed on this aspect by the applicant.

In summary, to date, insufficient material planning considerations have been advanced to the extent that would warrant a departure to the strong policy considerations which presume against development in the countryside.

Source:
http://www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/pp/gold/viewgold.asp?idtype=page&id=17795 see all reports relating to Item 8