Incinerator to go ahead says 'hamstrung' leader of council

A COUNCIL has left officers in control to progress with a controversial incinerator project on the Teesworks site near Grangetown.

- By DANIEL HODGSON

The “hamstrung” Labour Cabinet weighed up their options at a public meeting on Thursday.

Members clarified that even if Redcar and Cleveland Council withdrew from the proposals, the Cabinet couldn't stop the Tees Valley Energy Recovery Facility (TVERF) being built, as the other six regional councils involved in the £2bn project would proceed.

While there are £878,000 costs associated with pulling out and the wider TVERF continuing, the financial projection would be worse if the project were to fall apart following the council's withdrawal, as costs could rack up to millions and be put at the local authority's doorstep, bankrupting it in the process.

The Cabinet decision means that officers will work to achieve “financial close” for the council and “full implementation of the project arrangements”.

Cabinet members spoke about the proposals, some clearly hesitant about the situation, while others pointed out how the saga had begun long before they were in power.

Cllr Lynn Pallister, who represents Grangetown ward, said she recognised the concerns of local people but highlighted additional funding heading Grangetown's way if the incinerator gets built, as well as creating 700 jobs (during the construction period).

She also pointed out that there would be a total of £25m social economic value over the lifetime of the incinerator and said that she wasn't going to put the council at any more financial risk.