CAMPAIGNERS attempting to quash a controversial £1.4 billion waste incinerator between York and Knaresborough will come face-to-face with council chiefs in the High Court next week.

North Yorkshire County Council approved plans for the Allerton Waste Recovery Park, a joint scheme with City of York Council, last October, but the scheme was dealt a blow in February when the Government withdrew £65 million of private finance initiative funding after saying it was no longer needed to meet waste-reduction targets.

However, Marton-cum-Grafton Parish Council - backed by the North Yorkshire Waste Action Group (NYWAG) - is continuing its application for a judicial review into the county council’s decision to grant planning permission for the incinerator, which would be operated by private firm Amey Cespa Ltd. A two-day hearing has been scheduled for July 30 and 31 where a judge will first decide whether there is an “arguable case” and, if so, hear arguments from the parish and county councils.

The North Yorkshire and York authorities have said the incinerator is vital to cutting waste bills and landfill tax payments, but opponents claim it is outdated, too expensive and environmentally-damaging. They have also questioned whether the county council should have been allowed to make the planning decision on the scheme.

“The Government’s withdrawal of PFI credits holes the incinerator plan but does not sink it, which is why we are looking to have the planning decision overturned through judicial review,” said NYWAG spokesman Bon Schofield.

“If alternative means of funding can be found, it will still be built, so we cannot sit on our hands.”

The Environment Agency this week issued an environmental permit for the incinerator, on which the two councils have already spent £6.5 million between them. In a report to next week’s full meeting of the county council, Coun Gareth Dadd, executive member for highways and planning services, said a judgement on the judicial review - if a full hearing is held - may be given on July 31, but said: “There is a strong possibility that judgement could be reserved, in which case we may not know the outcome until September.”