Three possible Merseyside incinerator sites withdrawn

Jun 24 2009 by Ben Schofield, Liverpool Daily Post

Cllr Tony Robertson

THREE sites that could have housed waste-burning incinerators are being given a reprieve by planners.

But at least seven sites across Merseyside are still being considered for one of the huge plants.

A list of 11 possible sites was published in September after a Merseyside-wide trawl.

The city region’s waste chiefs are looking for two locations for giant plants that will process 300,000 tonnes of rubbish each year.

Although Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority (MWDA) says it has not settled on a definite technology, the body is known to favour “energy from waste” that will supply both heat and electricity.

Meanwhile, Merseyside Environmental Advisory Service (MEAS) has scoured the city region for suitable sites, both for huge facilities and smaller ones.

Their results will bind councils on where they can allow new waste sites to be built.

After a two-month consultation, MEAS announced three of the 11 sites are not suitable.

They are: a site off Heysham Road, Netherton; land to the east of Speke sidings, Liverpool; and Graving Dock No. 1 in Birkenhead’s West Float.

Sefton’s planning and economic regeneration director objected to the Netherton site being earmarked as a possible location because it is 120m from two densely populated areas. It was the only site being considered in the borough.