Waste chiefs will be carpeted over a decision that could see Colchester become the dumping ground for rubbish from across half of Essex.

Colchester Council's decision to back plans for two giant treatment plants to be built, handling household waste for the whole county, has been "called in" by the opposition Liberal Democrat group.

It means waste supremo Christopher Arnold will face questioning from the council's strategic and overview scrutiny panel on December 6.

The move, initiated by Lib Dem waste spokesman Henry Spyvee, comes after local authorities in East Essex - including Colchester - gave joint approval to plans for the creation of two anaerobic digestion and mechanical biological treatment plants to replace the county's eight rubbish tips.

Consultants, who decided that two large plants would have less impact on the environment than three or more small ones, researched based on the assumption that one would be in Basildon and the other at the existing council dump in Stanway.

The Lib Dems claim Stanway is now certain to be chosen, and have raised fears that lorries carrying thousands of tonnes of rubbish to the area will create disturbance and add to traffic problems.

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Published Tuesday, November 29, 2005

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