'We must read between lines'
WORRIED residents aired their fears about possible plans for an incinerator in Lostock Gralam during the annual meeting of the village's parish council.
Northwich councillor George Mainwaring, who has been campaigning against Lostock's inclusion in the county council's draft Replacement Waste Local Plan, spoke out against the proposal - and called on council chiefs to drop it from the blueprint before it is put out to consultation.
The Plan, which has yet to be formally ratified, is concerned with potential means of dealing with the county's ever-increasing waste disposal problem. Cheshire is over-dependent on landfill, with more than one million tons of waste deposited at three main sites in 2002.
The environmental blueprint lists 23 preferred locations across Cheshire, including industrial land in Lostock owned by Brunner Mond, that may be suitable as waste management sites.
Though the county council insists there are a number of waste treat-ment options for the sites, residents in Lostock believe that, in reality, it means a 'thermal treatment' plant will end up being built near their homes.
Cllr Mainwaring called the proposal a 'short-term fix that gives us a long-term problem', and afterwards explained the realities behind residents' concerns.
He said: 'We've got to be careful and read between the lines and find out what is really meant by thermal treatment.
'There was a leaked document three years ago that showed a company wanted to buy the old boiler house in Lostock to be an incinerator site - so we have kind of had the cart before the horse.
'There is no doubt that anybody getting an incinerator can make big money. It would be very lucrative and in some ways the council are looking from it this way - it is virtually a licence to print money.
'It clearly is a very emotive subject but there is much more to it. We can't say there will never ever be an incinerator but at present we are not ready.'
Instead of an incinerator, Cllr Mainwaring believes recycling and more eco-friendly products is the answer.
The Plan's first draft goes before the full council tomorrow (Thursday), and if approved in its current form will be the subject of a period of public consultation.
Cllr Mainwaring is calling on residents to form a coherent and credible opposition.
'What we need is a strategy and plan,' he said. 'It is no good just shouting at meetings because it cuts people off.
'If we are not careful there will be somebody making the decision and just wanting us to ratify it.'
The Local Plan outlines 23 preferred sites. They include two in Lostock, one possibly for thermal treatment (or incineration); one at Brooks Lane Industrial Estate in Middlewich, potentially for an incinerator; one at Kinderton Lodge in Middlewich, suitable for landfill; a waste-transfer station in Oakmere; and three in Winsford, two for recycling centres and Winsford Rock Salt Mine, which could be for hazardous waste disposal.