FEARS are mounting that a huge incinerator will be built on Deeside after key funding was secured.
Anxious councillors have raised concerns a massive waste treatment facility for most of North Wales will be built on their doorstep after the Assembly Government agreed to fund the project.
Assembly bosses have confirmed they will plough £142.7 million into the North Wales Residual Treatment Project (NWRWTP) – a scheme to manage waste that cannot be recycled from across five councils in the region.
In the outline business case presented by the board behind the project Deeside Industrial Estate is the only site named as a possible location for an incinerator which would form a key part of the plan.
Project bosses say Deeside is not confirmed as a potential site, but ward councillors are not convinced.
Connah’s Quay councillor Bernie Attridge said: “Progress is now being made, but Deeside is still the only site mentioned.
“They have had plenty of time now so I want to know what other sites there are. To me it seems that Deeside is going to be the site because nothing else has been put forward.
“I’m calling on them to come clean and be honest with the people of Deeside.”
A spokesman for NWRWTP said a final decision was not expected until September 2012.
He said: “It is important to emphasise that no decisions have been made regarding potential sites or potential technologies. The partnership has been, and will continue to, look for other potential sites within the partnership area, details of which will be made publicly available when commercial negotiations are completed for any additional sites.
“The Deeside site is a long-standing location for potentially hosting a waste facility and therefore is a potential site for the location of a residual waste treatment facility that will be considered as part of the procurement process.
“It is also important to note, however, that the partnership will be inviting bidders to put forward their own sites should they so wish.
“This will ensure that a wide range of potential options can be offered to the partnership. The partnership has been and will continue to be as open as possible during the whole process.”
Cllr Attridge said: “All the other councillors are laughing at us in Deeside because they won’t be coming up with their own site.
“Now this money has been secured they should be looking at other sites.
“We will vehemently oppose any incineration on Deeside.”
The project between Flintshire, Conwy, Denbighshire, Gwynedd and Anglesey Councils aims to increase recycling levels to 70 per cent of household waste by 2025.
Colin Everett, chief executive of Flintshire Council, said: “This funding is excellent news for the whole of the project. It means we can take time to ensure that we purchase the best treatment technology available to meet the needs of North Wales.”
The NWRWTP spokesman added: “The partnership intends on engaging and consulting with stakeholders and residents of Flintshire and the whole of North Wales to ensure a solution is procured that fits the needs of the whole region.”