Oxfordshire's Incinerator One Step Closer

Today the County Council's Cabinet decided to proceed with the procurement of an incinerator with the company Viridor which runs its operation at Ardley near Bicester. Read the press release here

The meeting room was packed this afternoon with protestors and everyone was waiting to hear the decision with bated breath. Some of the proceedings had to be taken in private because of the sensitivity of the tendering information. The next stage of the process will be the decision to grant planning permission.

Liberal Democrats in opposition at the County Council have been concerned about the process leading to this decision, especially the lack of publicity surrounding this extraordinary cabinet meeting called at the last minute and which was still not listed on the county's website today.

We have always called for the least environmentally-damaging option for incineration, if this is to be the only alternative to deal with our residual waste. We have also called for there to be a break clause in the 25 year contract to allow for more up to date technologies to be considered when they become available. With more and better recycling facilities, the capacity for such a large incinerator does need some questioning. Watch this space.