CAMPAIGNERS against plans for a huge incinerator between York and Knaresborough say the EU’s Competition Commissioner has begun investigating whether its financing represents an illegal state subsidy.

North Yorkshire Waste Action Group said it had received confirmation that the Commissioner’s office had written to UK authorities, asking them to explain why they do not consider the alleged aid to be unlawful.

Group spokesman Bob Schofield, said it thought Private Finance Initiative credits, using council tax money to pay much more than the market rate to dispose of waste and subsidise the disposal of commercial waste, all contravened EU law.

Yorkshire MEP Timothy Kirkhope said he was pleased the commission had responded promptly to those against the proposed waste recovery at Allerton Park. “It will be interesting to hear how the United Kingdom authorities respond to the questions the Commission has put to them,” he said.