We have heard that Eric Pickles MP, the Secretary of State for Local government, has again delayed the decision on the Javelin Park Incinerator that the Gloucestershire Tories have steam-rollered to its present position.
We know that it was delayed last time because GlosVain highlighted that another waste disposal project had been approved by GCC which undermines the viability of the incinerator decision.
However this time, there is no reason for it to be delayed, or rather, there is no sensible reason. So as far as I see it, there can only be two reasons:
1) That Eric is overturning the Planning committee and support his buddies in Shire Hall and going to approve it, but not tell anyone until after the election, which makes the idea of local decision making a farce.
2) That Eric is going to say no, and that would be hugely embarrassing to the Tory Administration, who, you may recall, signed the contract 2 weeks before the planning committee turned the application down.
I think this delay is a sham, I believe the decision has already been made and the Tories are now just trying to stage manage around the election.
Either way, the people who are suffering most because of this ill fated venture are the residents of Gloucestershire as we are being kept in a state of Limbo.
Labour Councillors, who have campaigned against the incinerator, have done what they can in getting the Council in a position to pursue alternative solutions, with the formation of the Plan B working group, but that is now dependent on getting a decision from Eric Pickles.