Second Sinfin incinerator inquiry to begin

The plant would slowly heat material to release gas, which would then be burned to create electricity

A second public inquiry will begin later to decide whether to allow an incinerator to be built in Derby.

Developers want to build the Sinfin plant to deal with 190,000 tonnes of waste a year from Derbyshire.

However a local councillor is hoping to change the waste policy at Derby City Council, which would see the proposals for the incinerator scrapped.

The new inquiry comes after the High Court ruled wider strategy issues were not considered the first time.

'Health fears'

Labour Councillor Baggy Shanker, who is against the incinerator plans, said he was "working on changing the waste strategy" at the city council.

"Irrespective of the way the planning inquiry goes, I'm trying to get the waste strategy modified so this plant isn't included in it," he said.

In 2009, Derby City Council rejected the plans because of health and environmental fears.

The company behind the plans, Resource Recovery Solutions (RRS), appealed against the decision, which prompted the first inquiry.

But a planning inspector turned down the scheme again, saying it would have a negative impact on traffic, air quality and people's living conditions.

However that decision was judged to have been unlawful after another appeal from RRS.

Mrs Justice Nicola Davies ruled the planning inspector had not sufficiently considered regional needs and strategies for dealing with waste.

Labour took control of Derby City Council in May from a Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition.