Conservative councillors said they were not prepared to write a "blank cheque" to help pay for a judicial review challenge to the government's decision to give the Medworth incinerator the go-ahead.
Energy secretary Claire Coutinho last month gave MVV Environment permission to build the Medworth burner on the outskirts of Wisbech.
The plant, which would be one of the biggest of its kind in Europe, would burn more than 600,000 tonnes of waste a year and generate electricity for local businesses.
The site on Algores Way is close to schools, a college and land where hundreds of new homes are planned near the A47.
An artist's visualisation of the Medworth incinerator (Image: MVV Environment)
Councils on both sides of the Norfolk - Cambridgeshire border, including Norfolk County Council, West Norfolk Council, Fenland District Council and Cambridgeshire County Council objected.
They raised fears 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 argued that the current capacity of the waste disposal chain was sufficient.
Fenland Council has said it is prepared to challenge the granting of permission for the plant in the High Court, through a judicial review.
Campaigners protest at County Hall over the incinerator plans (Image: Danielle Booden)
At a meeting of Norfolk County Council this week, Liberal Democrat Rob Colwell, county councillor for Gaywood South in King's Lynn tabled a motion that the council should agree to ask its Conservative-controlled cabinet to consider what support could be provided for any future judicial review.
Rob Colwell (Image: Rob Colwell)
But Brian Long, Conservative councillor for Fincham division, said, while he was against the incinerator, he was worried pledging support could be like writing a "blank cheque".
He said: "I find it difficult to commit this council and the people of Norfolk to an open-ended legal cost".
Brian Long (Image: © David Copeman Photography 2011)
Eric Vardy, the council's cabinet member for environment, said if the council was approached for help it would consider what to do, but it was too soon to commit right now.
Lib Dem Dan Roper said that had "twisted" the intent of the motion, but it was lost, with 32 votes against, 21 for and two abstentions.
County Hall in 'blank cheque' fear over incinerator legal challenge
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27.03.2024
Conservative councillors said they were not prepared to write a "blank cheque" to help pay for a judicial review challenge to the government's decision to give the Medworth incinerator the go-ahead.
Energy secretary Claire Coutinho last month gave MVV Environment permission to build the Medworth burner on the outskirts of Wisbech.
The plant, which would be one of the biggest of its kind in Europe, would burn more than 600,000 tonnes of waste a year and generate electricity for local businesses.
The site on Algores Way is close to schools, a college and land where hundreds of new........
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