The impact of NYCC’s waste management policy

This page summarises our understanding about North Yorkshire County Council's policy for waste management and how it is likely to affect our local area as well as the rest of North Yorkshire. We also list the steps you can take to oppose the current policy.

NYCC’s plans

NYCC has decided that centralisation of the whole of the county's waste (including the City of York), in which incineration plays a key role, is the best way of avoiding the forthcoming landfill tax increases, which the Government and the EU intend to impose.

About 450,000 tons of waste will be transported by road to one, or possibly more centralised sites, where up to 40% of the waste may be incinerated and the rest dealt with by other means.

Under a PFI (Private Finance Initiative) scheme NYCC has invited a number of private waste management companies to bid for the contract to run a centralised waste management facility or facilities, which will more than likely include large-scale incineration. We understand that the original list of bidders has now been reduced to a shortlist of two comprising:

• AmeyCespa - a subsidiary of the spanish Ferrovial Group

• Earth Tech / Skanska

Of three sites (Allerton Park, Dalton airfield, and Burn airfield) identified by NYCC as being suitable for waste management, Allerton Park Quarry, 2 miles from here, seems to be the favoured option. Your NY County Councillor, John Watson, has publicly stated it is a strong possibility that an incinerator will be sited at Allerton Park Quarry.

NYCC is expected to choose a final bidder in January 2010 and that bidder is likely to submit a formal planning application in April 2010. As a Parish Council, we will be consulted on this planning application and asked for our views.

In November the following statement appeared in York and North Yokshire Waste Partnership magazine:

"The councils expect to announce their preferred bidder early next year, when details of the solution, including the location and proposed technology will be clear. A period of public and stakeholder consultation will then commence where people will have the opportunity to ask questions and make their views known." (Full extract).

What can we do as individuals?

If you don't agree with NYCC's waste management policy, here are three key actions you can take today:

• Write to your county councillor, John Watson, opposing the current plans. The easiest way to do this is to go to the WriteToThem website and follow the instruction.

• Look at the DISC website and decide whether you wish to join the DISC campaign - it is well established and is now fighting on behalf of all affected communities in the area (not just Dalton).

• Consider starting your own action group if you feel your interests are not best served by DISC. Liaise with the if you feel this would help.

Your Parish Council’s stance on the issue

The Parish Council is clearly concerned about the potential impact of a large incinerator at Allerton Park. This is not the first large potential development on the A168 corridor - we have previously fought against (and won) applications for a motorway service area and a large abattoir in this area. As in these earlier cases, the Parish Council is focussing its efforts on examining the planning policies at District and National level that will shape the assessment of this proposal, and it is engaging with NYCC, Harrogate Borough Council and other Parish Councils in the area.

The Parish Council has a responsibility to respond on behalf of the Parish when formally consulted by NYCC or HBC, or when a planning application is received. However, we are taking steps now, ahead of receipt of such an application, because of the uncertainty regarding potential plans and their potential impact on the village - we want to be as prepared as possible when an application arrives.

This matter has been, and will continue to be, discussed at our monthly Parish Council meetings. We encourage you to attend a meeting if you wish to hear more, revisit this website where we will post as much information as possible, or to let us know your views.

How can I keep up to date with developments?

The PC intends to keep villagers up to date on developments through this website and via email. Click to be added to the village email list. [Click to be removed from the list.]