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A senior councillor has hinted a 2,000-signature petition opposing the use of an incinerator in Calderdale may be resubmitted following concerns about its previous rejection. Coun Ashley

Evans (Lib Dem, Warley) raised questions at a Calderdale Council meeting regarding why a past attempt to submit the anti-incinerator petition was turned down. He relayed the frustrations of

a group against the incinerator at Calder Valley Skip Hire's Belmont site in Sowerby Bridge, expressing their desire to present their case to the council. "He seemed to think he

was not allowed to do so. If that's the case, that seems rather strange, as it's such an important issue for many people in Calderdale, and should it not be something that we do

have the opportunity to discuss in full council?" Coun Evans questioned. In response, during the questions-to-Cabinet session at the full council meeting, Coun Silvia Dacre, Cabinet

member for Resources, explained that legal proceedings at the time might have been the reason for the initial rejection of the petition. "I would suggest the petition is resubmitted and

can then be considered in the normal way by (the council's) Legal and Democractic Services (team)," Coun Dacre (Lab, Todmorden) advised. She also mentioned that guidance on

resubmitting petitions could be found on the council's website. A tumultuous saga has played out over nearly a decade involving Calderdale Council, which initially rejected planning

permission for an incinerator, only to see this decision reversed by the planning inspectorate. Yet to operate the plant, an environmental permit is also essential. An original application

in 2021 led to objections, court action, and ultimately a Judicial Review that resulted in the permit being nullified, leaving its status as "undetermined". In response, the

company appealed this grey area. Despite these moves, Planning Inspector John Woolcock citing health concerns, swept aside the appeal after a probing inquiry, refusing the permit altogether.

Still, persistent in their efforts, the company secured approval on a subsequent application from the council towards the end of last year. Currently, challengers are rallying once more for

a Judicial Review against this latter decision, a move the council is preparing to resist staunchly. Soon, legal documents will be presented to a Judge tasked with deciding on greenlighting

a full Judicial Review hearing. _GET ALL THE LATEST AND BREAKING HUDDERSFIELD NEWS STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX BY __SIGNING UP TO OUR DAILY NEWSLETTER HERE.__ _