A LAST ditch plea is being made to national decision makers not to allow a controversial waste plant in Lostock Gralam.

Ed Davey MP, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, is expected to announce his decision over TATA and E.ON’s plans for the energy from waste facility any day.

But Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC) is writing with extra objections in the light of two developments.

One of these is the decision by Eric Pickles MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, to refuse Covanta’s application for a waste plant in Middlewich and the other is TATA’s bid to deal with west London’s rubbish.

Clr Mark Stocks, executive member for education and children and ward councillor for Shakerley, said CWAC already objected on the grounds that Cheshire has enough facilities to deal with the waste it creates.

He said: “The council is therefore alarmed to receive information recently that TATA/E.ON has been shortlisted in a tendering exercise organised by the West London Waste Authority which, if they were successful, would involve transporting 300,000 tonnes of waste approximately 200 miles to our borough for incineration every year for at least 25 years.”

He added: “We also note the Middlewich decision and respectfully urge the Secretary of State to demonstrate consistency in the principles applied to making the decision.”

Clr Helen Weltman said: “We were always concerned about where the waste was coming from.

“I remember someone saying at the time that it might come from as far as Birmingham or Yorkshire so it’s alarming that they’re applying for the west London waste contract.”

She pointed out that west London’s recycling rate is 38.4 per cent whereas CWAC recycles 49 per cent of its rubbish.

Clr Mike Jones, leader of CWAC, said the council had already written to the West London Waste Authority urging them to deal with their own waste closer to home.

He added his support to the motion that CWAC should write to Ed Davey, which won unanimous cross-party support.

Clr Stocks said: “We are striving to recycle 70 per cent of waste as an initial target and it would send out completely the wrong message if this application was granted in Cheshire West.”