THE decision to allow the controversial incinerator at the proposed Kingmoor Energy Facility could lead to Carlisle becoming the 'waste city of the north' according to Tom Adams, chair of Carlisle and District Green Party.

The Green Party, Carlisle Residents Against Incinerator (CRAIN) and local residents’ representatives have criticised the Environment Agency (EA) over their decision-making process about the potential Kingmoor ‘Energy from Waste’ facility.

The prospect of an incinerator, built to burn waste at Kingmoor Park, has been in the pipeline since 2016.

Last week, the EA gave notice that they were about to release a draft decision and permit document that would see plans for an incinerator take a further step forward.

At present, the EA are reviewing the documentation but have indicated they are likely to issue the draft permit and decision document.

This would lead to a ‘minded to’ consultation in which members of the public will be able to engage with the EA over any new information about the site but they will not hold any public drop-in sessions.

In the letter the EA said: "The consultant, local community and other interested people will need to wait until any consultation starts to let us have their comments on the content of the draft documents.

"We will publish a further update to let people know the outcome of our review."

This latest development comes on the back of the county council’s decision to allow planning for a refuse-derived fuel (RDF) processing site at Hespin Wood, which could potentially supply material for such an incinerator.

Tom Adams, chair of the Carlisle and District Green Party said: “Put together, these plans are being implemented under the radar of proper public scrutiny, where attempts by the public to object have been stymied by a host of problems including missing and incorrect information for the permit consultation, and a system that gives big business rather than the environment the benefit of the doubt.

“If permission for an incinerator goes ahead, it could result in more HGV traffic bringing waste in from miles around and a 70-metre-high chimney belching out pollution that will harm health — particularly in children, those who suffer from asthma, and the vulnerable.”

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