WASTE bosses in York have been asked to look at whether a potential “Plan B” is in place if a controversial £900 million incinerator in the North Yorkshire countryside does not go ahead.

Proposals for the Allerton Waste Recovery Park, next to the A1 between York and Harrogate, are set to go before North Yorkshire County Council’s planning committee later this year after the authority and City of York Council combined to draw up the scheme.

The councils say the facility, backed by £65 million in private finance initiative cash, would massively reduce their waste bills and landfill tax payments while providing enough power for 40,000 homes. A 25-year contract to operate the site has been awarded to Amey Cespa, but opponents say it is outdated and too expensive and have called for alternatives to be looked at.

Conservative councillor Paul Healey and Labour councillor Stephen Burton have now secured a “scrutiny topic” on the issue within City of York Council.

Coun Healey, who represents Rural West York, said he wanted the exercise to consider steps which can be taken to reduce waste and save money before the incinerator becomes operational, as well as what would happen if the scheme did not come to fruition. Coun Burton wants the review to look at commercial waste recycling.

“There are some aspects I am uncomfortable about, because things have moved on since this incinerator was first discussed several years ago and also since it was decided that this was the way to go,” said Coun Healey.

“What I want to look at is whether there are things we can be doing to reduce our waste costs today, rather than waiting for the incinerator to be completed. These could be small schemes which are cost-effective and can be brought in within the short-to-medium term, which would be good for everybody.

“These are things which can be done whether the incinerator goes ahead or not. Nobody seems to have spoken about a Plan B to this scheme, and I would have thought the council would want to have an alternative, because I don’t see how carrying on as we are in terms of waste is sustainable.”

Amey Cespa has said the incinerator, which would have a 70-metre chimney, would create about 400 jobs during the construction period and 70 once it opened.

Opponents say the councils will be locked into a 25-year contract to burn waste which could be recycled and want the county council’s eventual planning decision to be called in by the Government.