Weston Point Runcorn

Location: Picow Road Farm, Weston Point, Runcorn, WA7

Capacity: 850,000 tonnes per annum

Developer: Ineos Chlor

What’s the plan?

The plan is to build a massive 105 metre stack and a capacity for burning 850,000 tons of waste per year. This would make it the single biggest incinerator of its type in Europe.

The proposal is so large that for planning purposes it bypasses the local authorities completely and goes directly to central government for approval.

DBERR (the Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform) granted planning permission to Ineos Chlor to build the 100Mw plant on 16 September 2008.

One of the reasons it gave for agreeing to the proposal was that Halton Borough Council did not oppose the application, choosing instead to issue ambiguous statements. DBERR states that despite trying to clarify the Council’s position it had to conclude ‘…that the Council’s response did not constitute an objection and a public inquiry was therefore not mandatory…’

However, this does not mean that the fight is over. The next hurdle that Ineos have to clear is that in order to operate the plant they need a Pollution Control Certificate (PCC) to be issued by the Environmental Agency. Residents of Cheshire still have a chance to object to the PCC being granted as the public consultation has been extended until 4th February 2010. Read the story published in the Runcorn & Widnes World on 23rd January 2010 for more information.

Latest Update:

This incinerator is up and running – see reports of issues for the local community since it became operational.

Local campaign websites: HAGATI – Halton Action Group Against The Incinerator – catch up with the latest developments on their website