A NORTH Yorkshire council will has taken its next steps in a legal challenge over the Government’s decision to withdraw funding for a controversial £1.4 billion waste incinerator between York and Harrogate.

North Yorkshire County Council has applied for permission to pursue a judicial review over the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pulling £65 million in private finance initiative cash for the Allerton Waste Recovery Park earlier this year, with the Government department saying the scheme was no longer necessary.

The application was on behalf of both the county council and City of York Council, due to the incinerator being a joint scheme between the authorities.

Yesterday’s High Court “directions” hearing was intended to lay out a timetable for the legal bid, but will not decide whether a judicial review will be held.