Joy as pet food firm confirms it will not use power from planned Fenland incinerator

Opponents of a proposed mega waste burner for Wisbech are celebrating after one of the town's major firms confirmed it had no plans to take energy from the plant.

News that Nestlé Purina has no plans to take power from the incinerator has been hailed as "great news" and a major coup for the anti-burner campaign.

Simon Billington, technical director at Nestlé Purina, in a written response to supporters of the campaign group WisWIN (Wisbech Without Incineration), confirmed his company's stance.

MVV Environment Ltd, the German-based company behind the plans to build a 54 megawatt incinerator off Algores Way, have said in their proposals the aim would be to sell energy produced by the burning of rubbish at the plant to local firms.

They are using this argument to back up their application and to suggest it is sustainable within the local community.

However, Mr Billington, in an email reply to a direct question about whether or not Nestlé Purina will make use of any energy produced, said: " I reply to you on the point you have raised about the potential incinerator investment in the locality.

"Although energy from waste plants can play a valuable role in reducing the amount of waste going to landfill, we have no plans to partner with MVV Environment on their proposed project for Wisbech.

"In this instance we believe there are more appropriate alternatives which can deliver the renewable energy we need, in suitable locations, as part of our journey to net zero."

Fellow Wisbech firm Lamb Weston have also given assurances and have put banners opposing the incinerator around their plant.

Meanwhile WisWIN has been busy organising a coach trip for campaigners to meet local MP Steve Barclay and other politicians including the Green Party's Baroness Jenny Jones, King's Lynn Mp James Wild and hopes that other will also agree to meet the delegation on September 8.

There are a handful of seats for the trip still available priced at £8 and anyone interested in joining should contact Virginia Bucknor through the WisWIN Facebook page.

Banners opposing the incinerator have also continued to go up around Wisbech, but Mrs Bucknor said there has been some consternation with the disappearance of not one but two banners from their spot on the Town Bridge.

She said: "We put one banner up and it disappeared, so we replaced it. Now that too has been removed. We have no idea who is doing it. The banner was there this morning at 7am, but had gone by lunchtime. - which is very frustrating because of course we have to keep paying to replace them."