A campaign group that sought a Judicial Review against a Tata/E.ON energy from waste facility has been forced to drop its plans.
Cheshire Anti-Incinerator Network (CHAIN) took part in a hearing at the High Court in Manchester to consider its application to delay the Judicial Review that had been due to begin on 1 May by at least three months.
The reason for it wanting the delay, was to give it more time to raise funding for its legal representation.
This application was opposed by Tata/E.ON, while the Government was not represented, despite it being the subject of the Judicial Review.
The judge decided not to grant the request, and as a result CHAIN advised the court that it did not wish to continue with the challenge.
CHAIN chairman Brian Cartwright said: “We regret having to take the decision to discontinue our legal action on behalf of the people of Northwich, but there was no realistic alternative. Quite simply, despite all of our strenuous efforts, CHAIN did not have the financial resources to continue.
“We arrived at that conclusion after two High Court hearings where we represented ourselves and were up against qualified barristers representing the Government and Tata/E.On. It must be stressed that the strong case that we know we had against the waste incinerator was not tested in court.”
Following a public inquiry, Energy Secretary Ed Davey granted consent for the facility in October 2012.
The plant at Lostock will be built and operated by E.ON energy from waste and will provide about one third of Tata Chemicals Europe’s energy requirements.
It is expected to be operational by 2016.
