Fenland District Council has today (Monday February 26) voted unanimously to seek legal advice on a potential challenge to the Secretary of State's decision to allow Wisbech incinerator to be built.

The council will seek legal advice on whether there are any grounds for a judicial review to be sought to overturn this decision, and the likelihood of whether a judicial review would be successful.

The scheme – known as the Medworth Energy from Waste Combined Heat and Power Facility Development Consent Decision – is located close to schools and homes. 

As well as the environmental impact, there are also concerns about its scale and the number of additional lorries it will generate on the roads.    

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Virginia Bucknor, spokesperson for Wisbech without Incineration (WisWIN), said: “I have spoken to specialists, and they have never seen anything like this before.  

“The decision has shocked the community here in Wisbech and we’re still waiting to find out why it has been withdrawn.” 

Claire Coutinho is the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero and was responsible for the final decision. 

Her department has said an update on the matter will be issued in due course.

Steve Barclay, the MP for North East Cambridgeshire and the Environment Secretary, has opposed the scheme as soon as the proposals were first revealed in late 2019.  

After last week's approval decision was published, he said: “I’m extremely disappointed that development consent has been granted for the Wisbech incinerator.  

“As residents are aware, I have campaigned against this proposal and my thanks go to all those campaigners, individuals and organisations who have supported me along the way. 

“There is a lot to digest in the [60 page] decision letter and recommendation report and I will review that to try to understand why this scheme has been approved and how we might move forward.” 

Mr Barclay has not yet commented specifically on the decision’s withdrawal.