Unanimous support as Wisbech Town Council sets up special anti-incinerator working group and agrees motion of opposition
Unity reigned supreme at an extraordinary meeting of Wisbech Town Council on Monday night as councillors met to discuss proposed plans for a mega incinerator.
Councillor Steve Tierney received unanimous backing for his motion opposing the waste burner, which is being proposed by MVV Environment Ltd for the outskirts of Wisbech.
It was also unanimously agreed to set up a Wisbech anti-incinerator campaign working party which will be chaired by Councillor Ben Prest with independent Councillor Nick Meekins as vice-chairman.
Proposing the new group Councillor Sam Hoy said the aim was four fold including getting all campaigns opposed to the incinerator working together and to give a clear and consistent message to people.
She praised the on-going Wisbech Without Incineration- WISWin campaign spearheaded by former councillors Mike and Virginia Bucknor and hoped a member of their team would join the working party.
Coun Hoy said the town council had links to organisations and local political leaders including Cambridgeshire mayor James Palmer and MP Steve Barclay, who would be an essential asset in the fight against the incinerator.
Coun Steve Tierney had previously said he would not sit on the working group because he was aware that his being part of it may put others off joining.
However, during the public open forum Peter Freeman called for Coun Tierney to be part of the working party and said: "Given the county, district and parish ward in which the proposed incinerator is to be sited and Coun Tierney's proven track record in campaigning, it would surely make sense to have him on the working party supporting the chairman and members."
He added: "We have all heard so often, lately, that personal and political feelings shouldn't be brought into this important issue as it could hamper the outcome, so let's see people working together instead of pulling in different directions."
Mr Freeman also urged the council to join the WISWin group in the fight against the incinerator.
Coun Tierney's motion which also gained full support at a recent full meeting of Fenland District Council, agreed the town council does not support the construction of the incinerator in Wisbech.
It then went on to state the council will write to the secretary of state, who will have the final say on the development's planning permission, to express its opposition and finally it said: "Wisbech Town Council will take any and all legal avenues and processes available to the council to continue to fight on behalf of the residents of Wisbech, the surrounding villages, and Fenland as a whole, and to challenge this unwelcome scheme every step of the way."
Proposing the motion Coun Tierney said he was going for a 'hat-trick' and would be presenting it for a third time to Cambridgeshire County Council.
