Published: Tuesday, 7th February 2023
Anyone who wishes to make representations to the Planning Inspectorate about the proposed incinerator in Wisbech needs to register their interest immediately.
The borough council has been recently notified by the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) of the next stage in the application process and the deadline for taking part is short. We have passed this information to borough councillors and parish councils already but we want interested parties to be aware if they have not already been notified, or have missed this, as we want to ensure all who have an interest are aware.
PINS will be holding ‘Open Floor Hearings’ on 22 and 23 February but registration to speak at these hearings closes at midnight on 9 February.
The hearings are mainly designed to give people who have registered as 'Interested Parties' the opportunity to speak directly to the Examining Authority (which in this case is PINS and not this borough council) and put forward their views. People who have not previously registered as Interested Parties may be able to speak, at the discretion of the examiners.
The borough council has taken a keen interest in these proceedings, even though the facility itself will be in Wisbech in Fenland district, due to concern regarding negative impact on our area. The grid connection route and substation would be within the Borough of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk.
The Council has worked with the host authorities and local partners, including Norfolk County Council, and members have discussed the proposals at full council and planning committee. This borough council will be attending relevant hearings as a registered Interested Party.
This council has a long-standing agreed position of opposition to the scheme and it will use this opportunity to re-state that opposition.
Leader of the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, Cllr Stuart Dark MBE, said: “I and other councillors have consistently stated our in-principle opposition to this scheme on the basis that there is enough capacity in the incineration supply chain and we, along with other councils, have ambitious plans regarding recycling and reducing waste, which will lower not increase use.
“Put simply this site is not needed, is too large and is in the wrong location.”
Anyone who wishes to speak at the hearings, even if they have already registered as an Interested Party, must register to do so by midnight on 9 February. Anyone who has not already registered as an Interested Party is advised to contact PINS direct by email at medworth@planninginspectorate.gov.uk or on 0303 444 5000. Residents who have links to their parish councils can help by making sure that they have registered if they wish to speak at the hearings.
The hearings will be held at 6pm on 22 February and 10am on 23 February, at The Boathouse Business Centre, Harbour Square, Wisbech PE13 3BH.
Anyone who wants to register to attend the Open Floor Hearings, can do so at: bit.ly/3YtOY7K.
A copy of the full PINS letter can be found at https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/eastern/medworth-energy-from-waste-combined-heat-and-power-facility/