Low Carbon: Shock for Cheshire as Government scraps £100m worth of support for waste disposal masterplan

Both Cheshire West and Chester (CWAC) and Cheshire East Councils had been on the verge of finalising a deal with their preferred bidder for the treatment of 180,000 tonnes of waste created every year.

But those plans were wrecked last week when the Government withdrew £100m of support to finance the huge contract.

Council leaders are now seeking urgent talks with the Government to discuss the decision and find a solution to Cheshire's fast-diminishing landfill space.

CWAC leader Mike Jones said: "I am extremely concerned by this development because after a five-year process, we were so very close to a solution to our household waste disposal problems over the next quarter of a century.

"During the next few days we will be talking to Government, our colleagues in the East and our advisors, in an attempt to clarify the situation and find a solution."

Cllr Wesley Fitzgerald, leader of Cheshire East Council, added: "We are disappointed by DEFRA's decision as an awful lot of time and work has gone into this joint project.
"We had great faith in this scheme, and had already achieved a lot. However, we will be making every effort to talk with key stakeholders to find alternative ways of reducing landfill."

Community and Environment Executive Member, Councillor Lynn Riley, said: "Potentially we have some very important and difficult decisions to make after considering all the options and alternatives open to us.

"However, at this moment in time, only one thing is absolutely certain. Landfill availability in Cheshire is shrinking fast and we still have to find a way of disposing of at least 180,000 tonnes of household waste each year."