ABOUT 50 protesters gathered at County Hall in Northallerton on Wednesday to object to plans being drawn up by North Yorkshire County Council and the City of York Council for a waste incinerator site to be constructed at Allerton Quarry, near Knaresborough.
The protest was organised by North Yorkshire Waste Action Group as opposition grows against the plans for the recycling/waste disposal site which will burn waste from across North Yorkshire in what many feel to be an inappropriate area.
Concerns f
rom protesters as councillors entered the building for the full council meeting have centred not only on the visual impact of the combined incinerator and power station – the 260-foot chimney will be 65 feet higher than the tower of York Minster and situated next to the Grade One listed Allerton Castle – but say protesters, will cost taxpayers £1.4 billion for a 25-year contract.
The Friends of the Earth has also voiced its opposition to the plans.
Last weekend saw many local people take the chance to view the public information exhibitions held by waste contractors, AmeyCespa in Boroughbridge, Harrogate, York and Knaresborough to view the proposals and ask questions about the site.
Councillors from North Yorkshire and York will decide this autumn if the proposals should get the go-ahead and if a planning application is passed, it could mean the site would be operational by 2014.
