KEIGHLEY'S MP was praised by a Government minister for his "fiery" debate in Parliament criticising plans to build an incinerator in Keighley.

But Rebecca Pow, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for DEFRA, defended a decision by the Government's Environment Agency to grant a permit for the controversial scheme, saying all proper procedures had been followed.

During Wednesday's Parliamentary debate she also told Keighley and Ilkley MP Robbie Moore (Conservative) that Public Health England had said well-run waste incinerators had "no significant impact" on air quality.

And she pointed out that the Government had a strategy of introducing Clean Air Zones across the country in a bid to tackle air pollution.

One such Clean Air Zone is due to be introduced in Bradford next year.

Mr Moore had called for the debate to raise concerns that both he and local campaigners had regarding the incinerator. The plans would see a £135 million waste to energy facility built on a site in Marley.

Endless Energy's plans had been approved by Bradford Council, and late last year the Government run Environment Agency approved an environmental permit for the development to go ahead.

Permit for controversial Keighley incinerator is issued

The plans have prove hugely controversial, with environmental group Aire Valley Against Incineration set up to fight the development.

During the debate Mr Moore said: "This is an incinerator that is to be built at the bottom of a valley in close proximity to schools, residential care homes, playing fields, people’s homes—spaces where children grow up and play. Yet despite that, and a huge number of other factors, both the Environment Agency and Bradford Council, as the local planning authority, have deemed the construction and operation of the incinerator to be suitable and fit for our environment."

He claimed Bradford Council had not scrutinised the plans enough before granting permission, raised concerns about the decision to approve the development, and cited the huge amount of opposition to the plans.

He also claimed the consultation held by the Environment Agency before granting the permit had been "shoddy" adding "I cannot express my frustration and anger enough."

He said the incinerator could have serious health implications for his constituents, who he claimed had been "let down" by the process.

Mrs Pow praised Mr Moore's passion for the issue, but said EA investigations had found that many of the concerns were "unfounded."

She said: "The Environment Agency verified the modelling of air emissions provided by the applicant to ensure it included an appropriate variety of weather conditions, including temperature inversions in the valley.

"The agency also undertook its own detailed modelling of air emissions, and it is satisfied that the concerns are unfounded and the installation will not have a significant impact on air quality—the EA has to follow due process and do the modelling.

"The EA determined that the applicant provided sufficient information for it to be satisfied that the facility will not compromise air quality limits or standards and will meet the relevant environmental requirements for this type of facility."

She said the facility would legally have to meet strict emission targets, and she would make sure that the agency ensures these targets are met.

The company could face prosecution if they are not.

She added: "We take air quality extremely seriously as a Government, and we are fully committed to reducing air pollution. We are pouring £3.8 billion into cleaning up our air, and we have an enormous strategy of bringing in clean air zones across the country to keep people healthy, because this is a major health issue.

"Public Health England’s position remains that modern, well run and regulated municipal waste incinerators do not have a significant impact on air quality. In addition, they must use what we call, technically, best available techniques—that is the kit and equipment that they have to put in to meet environmental standards and reinforce the levels of environmental protection.

"The ambition is to have less and less waste going to incineration. There will always be some that will have to go to the lower ends of the waste hierarchy, but the key is that the incinerators have to be safe, regulated, and well run."