Building work on controversial Wisbech incinerator to start today
The multi million pound plant - on land off Algores Way - is due to be completed in around three and a half years' time
Building work on an incinerator thought to be one of the largest in Europe is due to start in Wisbech today.
MVV Environment Limited - which has drawn up the plans - say the multi million pound plant off Algores Way will be ready by mid-2029.
In February 2024, the Secretary of State for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero granted consent for the Development Consent Order (DCO) Application for this project.
Two months later, The Environment Agency approved and issued the Environmental Permit.
In July of that year, a High Court judge refused to grant a judicial review into this. It's a decision that Fenland District Council said it was "extremely disappointed with".
"It just seems absolutely ludicrous"
Helen Pentelow runs WEP Fabrications and Powdercoating close to the site:
"People have worked hard and to have this put right in the middle of our town, it's hardly in the sticks right out in the sticks, it just seems absolutely ludicrous.
"I really do have some serious concerns around how it will affect businesses here over the next two years. Beyond that there's the health risks and concerns, what is this going to mean for our children and grandchildren".
Why has this project been controversial?
A national petition was set up by Ginny Bucknor to ban new incinerators and remove permits from those where building has not begun.
With the 'Wisbech Without Incineration' campaign also being formed in 2020.
The group argued this project would create pollution, increase traffic congestion in the area and was built too close to the town itself
Waste incineration involves the use of high temperature furnaces to combust waste and reduce its volume.
This can be used in processes known as 'energy from waste', where waste is burned to then create energy which is recovered to be used as heat or electricity.
Data from the Environment Agency shows up to 2023 in England, there was a further increase of 12% in the amount of waste incinerated, on top of this figure nearly trebling in the UK between 2010 and 2020.
What have the developers said?
MVV Environment Ltd claims the £300 million project will generate more than 50 megawatts of electricity to power 74,000 homes.
Paul Carey - managing director at MVV - said "once the scheme is operational, it will soon become apparent their the campaign's fears are unfounded."