CAMPAIGNERS are sighing with relief after plans to build a huge incinerator were rejected - but the battle over the controversial burner is not over yet.
Gloucestershire county councillors voted unanimously to turn down the application for the incinerator on green land at Javelin Park in Haresfield.
However, bosses at Urbaser Balfour Beatty have been quick to reveal their plans to appeal the decision to reject their £500million burner.
This means a Government planning inspector is now likely to have the final say on the scheme.
Campaigners in Bishop's Cleeve are rejoicing at the 18 councillors' decision to reject the incinerator.
Members of Sward (Safety in Waste and Rubbish Disposal), who have been campaigning against a toxic waste dump at Wingmoor Farm near Bishop's Cleeve for the past 10 years, said it was a "huge relief" the Javelin Park scheme had been refused.
Barbara Farmer, spokeswoman for the group, said: "We are delighted. We were totally opposed to the incinerator from the start and would like to congratulate Glosvain on carrying out a superb campaign against the plans.
"I'm very pleased that county councillors decided to stand up against the scheme, echoing the views of the people they represent.
"If they had been approved it would have essentially been a commitment to incineration in the county for the next 30 or 40 years which is just ludicrous.
"Incinerators are not being built in Holland or Germany any more so for us to go down that route would have been madness."
A Government planning inspector will have to weigh up a swell of public opposition – 4,000 objections from residents and 15 parish councils – with the ultimate need to dispose of at least 150,000 tonnes of county waste each year.
Yesterday, lead campaigner Sue Oppenheimer, from Glosvain, said they had 'won the battle, but not the war' in claiming victory.
A tense – and often electrifying – 11-hour council meeting was packed out with 200 campaigners, who were on a knife-edge. As the verdict was delivered, the room erupted with cheers and applause.
Many of the councillors are seeking re-election in May, sparking suggestions on Twitter that some voted 'no' to please the electorate.
Javier Peiro, project director for Urbaser Balfour Beatty, said: "We are minded to appeal the decision and are currently seeking planning and legal opinions.
"We feel that the application was a strong one, sitting well within planning law and local policies that clearly identify a need for residual waste treatment in the county."
The council's waste champion, Councillor Stan Waddington, launched an attack on his colleagues who turned down the plan. He said: "In its refusal, the committee did not challenge the need for the facility, which will save us £190 million."
Council bosses signed a contract with UBB months before permission was refused.
However, Mr Waddington denied that breaking the contract would cost taxpayers up to £15 million, saying there is no financial penalty for rejecting the plans.
