A controversial £300m incinerator, which has met fierce opposition in Norfolk, could get the go-ahead within days.
Energy secretary Claire Coutinho has until next Wednesday to decide whether to allow MVV Environment to build the Medworth Energy from Waste Combined Heat and Power Facility.
Energy secretary Claire Coutinho
The company wants to build the incinerator on the outskirts of Wisbech, in Cambridgeshire, to burn 500,000 tonnes of waste each year.
The plant, which would be one of the biggest of its kind in Europe, would convert the waste into energy for local businesses.
But the plans have run into opposition on both sides of the border. Norfolk County Council, West Norfolk Council, Fenland District Council and Cambridgeshire County Council have all objected.
Campaigners protest at County Hall over the incinerator plans (Image: Danielle Booden)
READ MORE: All Norfolk county councillors vote to oppose 'mega incinerator'
Concerns raised include over the levels of carbon dioxide, the impact of having more lorries on the road, damage to historic sites and farms in west Norfolk and that the current capacity of the waste disposal chain is sufficient.
After a series of public hearing, the Planning Inspectorate, which oversees nationally significant developments, made a recommendation to the government.
Ms Coutinho has until Wednesday to make a decision. She can accept the recommendation or could choose to ignore it.
South West Norfolk MP Liz Truss
Former prime minister Liz Truss, whose South West Norfolk constituency is close to where the incinerator would be built, has also called for it to be rejected.
In a letter to the Planning Inspectorate, she said: "It is clear that the construction of the Medworth facility will have a detrimental impact on my constituents, and I therefore reaffirm my objections to the planning proposal.
"I believe the location is inappropriate being near to schools, housing and health care providers.
An artist's visualisation of the Medworth incinerator (Image: MVV Environment)
"There is also a considerable impact on the environment and on high value agricultural land.
"The location is adjacent to a railway site with a main drain beside it, with the majority of Wisbech drainage passing through the site.
"Traffic movements in the area are already near capacity and the additional HGV traffic that the facility would require, would only exacerbate this situation."
Norfolk County Council's own plans for an incinerator in King's Lynn were scrapped in April 2014.
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