Demand for Calderdale Council leaders to decide controversial incinerator permit

Calderdale Council will have to determine Calder Valley Skip Hire’s application for an Environmental Permit at the company’s Belmont site, Rochdale Road, Sowerby Bridge.

This is the site where the company successfully appealed against Calderdale Council’s refusal of permission to build an incinerator.

That application was determined by a Planning Inspector following an appeal hearing held late last year and the decision announced earlier this year.

But an environmental permit is still required before it can be operated.

Campaigner Malcolm Powell had written to Leader of the Council, Coun Tim Swift (Lab, Town), asking that this application be considered by, and the decision made by, the Cabinet, as was the case when the Environmental Permit for the company’s other, Mearclough, site was considered two years ago.

Mr Powell asked if Cabinet would determine it, in the light of some residents’ concerns, or whether the decision would be delegated to officers.

The council has indicated it has not yet been decided where the decision would be taken but the matter would be kept under review and the appropriate decision forum used when it is necessary.