The Javelin Park incinerator planning inquiry

I went to join some of my fellow town councillors early this morning in gloucester. The government's planning inspectorate is holding a public inquiry to hear the appeal against Gloucestershire County Council’s decision to refuse permission for the facility on the Haresfield site. It is a long story and rather a sorry tale of politics and the environment.

We wanted to show out support for the original decision to turn down the planning application for the incinerator, which we and countless others believe would be the wrong way to deal with the waste issues in Gloucestershire.

It was interesting to see the various groups of barristers, solicitors, experts, councillors, advisers and all the protestors all gathered together in this rather dark room, which will house the inquiry for the next six or more weeks. I shall probably go back at odd times to see British democracy at work. But I don't think it will be the wishes of thew people that rule here, more like the usual power players forced for once into the limelight.


This is an extract from a local Stroud paper, which gives a bit more information. (Thanks to the Stroud News and Journal)

The planning inquiry to discuss the proposed Javelin Park incinerator will start on Tuesday 19th November 2013, and continue through to next spring. The planning inspectorate is holding a public inquiry to hear the appeal against Gloucestershire County Council’s decision to refuse permission for the facility on the Haresfield site.

For the past few months, all parties involved – the county council, the applicant Urbaser Balfour Beatty, Glosvain, Friends of the Earth and Stroud District Council have been preparing their evidence.

As part of the planning inspectorate’s appeal process, each party has to provide a statement of case, which is a summary of their main issues.

They also have to agree a statement of common ground, which sets out the issues where the parties are in agreement, in advance of the hearing.

Now that discussions are over and work is complete, the inquiry, which will be held at the Hallmark Hotel, Matson, Gloucester, is ready to begin at 10am on Tuesday, November 19.

Following the pre-inquiry meeting in September where the inspector, Brian Cook, considered the amount of evidence needed, he has now confirmed the timetable is now likely to run from November until the end of March 2014. A decision isn't likely to be announced until June 2014.