THE fight to oppose the new waste to energy incinerator at Marley will continue, a packed public meeting in Sandbeds heard last night.

The gathering in the Octagon, in Sandbeds, arranged by the Aire Valley Against Incineration group, (AVAI) was attended by at least 200 people.

In a detailed presentation, AVAI chairman and Riddlesden resident Charlotte Miller said despite Bradford Council's Regulatory and Appeals Committee approving the incinerator last Thursday, the battle was far from over.

She said the Government's Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Sajid Javid has yet to decide whether he will call in the matter to make his own determination.

She explained this measure would only be taken if he decides the issue has national as well as local implications.

But Mrs Miller added that even if the application is not called in, it can be fought by either demanding a judicial review or contesting the issuing of an operator's permit by the Environment Agency.

She warned that AVAI needs to fundraise to pay for legal counsel and expert advice.

"The building of this incinerator in our valley is not a foregone conclusion," she said.

"Bradford Council's approval can't be acted on until the Secretary of State has decided whether he wants to call this in, so we're in limbo at the moment.

"It's been extremely frustrating to hear some people say this is 'Nimby-ism'. That's not true. We have valid reasons for opposing this."

Mrs Miller outlined the reasons for continued objection, including the damage the incinerator would inflict on the valley's visual appearance, and the harm to people's health caused by pollution from the plant.

She disputed the applicant's claim that the facility would generate 500 jobs, pointing out that 300 of these jobs would only be temporary posts during the construction phase and another 75 would be highly skilled incinerator operator posts, many of which would not necessarily be filled by people from the Keighley area.

She also rejected the applicant's argument that another 100 jobs would be created by its building of an office block.

"Moving people from one place to another isn't creating new jobs, that's just creating work space," she said.

At last week's meeting where amended plans for the incinerator were passed by Bradford councillors, the applicant's agent said health and pollution concerns were a matter for the Environment Agency – which would only issue an operating permit after a detailed assessment of the plans.

He said the company already has plants operating in 11 areas and asked whether this would be the case if there were legitimate concerns about safety.

A specialist consultant speaking on behalf of the applicant, said claims made by objectors that the plant would pose a risk to the health of children were “untrue” and could cause distress.

*Full report from last night's public meeting in next Thursday's Keighley News.