The planning permission that Surrey County Council gave to itself for the construction of an incinerator at the Charlton Lane Community Recycling Centre is now to be re-considered by the SCC Cabinet on grounds of affordability and value for money. When the Cabinet met on 24th February it heard that delays, (for which our campaigners combining with SATEP may justifiably claim credit!) have resulted in revisions to pricing'.
LOSRA campaign member, Brian Catt took the opportunity to address the Cabinet stating that the Eco Park is "now an avoidable mistake" based on it being an expensive disposal of waste, having minimal energy recovery and having "a very high risk of failure". He added: "In the light of these clear facts, especially that the Eco Park is low volume expensive disposal, and not yet begun, can the County assure its councillors that officers' value study will include the better available opportunities for the County to realise best practice in treating our dry waste?"
At the same meeting, LOSRA member, Peter Crews, asked what options are due to be considered in the review and was told by Cllr. Furey (acting Cabinet member for Environment and planning) that it would be either amending the existing waste contract, or terminating the waste contract and achieving recycling and landfill diversion improvements without new infrastructure by securing alternative technology. Peter concluded: "Finally, do you agree the value for money assessment completely misses the point as it is based on the [erroneus] assumption that Surrey must build an incinerator?" The Leader, David Hodge said their questions would be answered after the meeting.
Last Tuesday's Cabinet meeting was originally earmarked to further detail the impacts of delays in the delivery on value for money and affordability of the Eco Park project but the decision has now been put back to 28th April. Cllr. Furey confirmed that the evaluation of each option would include the 'whole life cost' of construction, operation and maintenance.