YORK’S council chiefs have been accused of breaking a promise to oppose waste incineration after backing plans for a controversial £900 million plant in North Yorkshire.

City of York Council’s executive has recommended approving the award of the contract to build the facility at Allerton quarry and landfill site, near the A1(M), to Spanish firm Amey Cespa.

The matter will be debated at a full meeting of the council this week. North Yorkshire County Council also supported the proposals for the incinerator, which the authorities say will allow them to cut £320 million from their waste management bills and avoid paying high levels of landfill tax.

But when the Liberal Democrats took control of York council in 2003, their manifesto included a pledge to oppose incinerators and instead focus on reducing, recycling and reusing waste.

Richard Lane, spokesman for the York Residents Against Incineration campaign group, said: “They had a clear position to say what they wanted and they were categorical, but now they have just reneged on that promise.”

North Yorkshire Waste Action Group chairman Steve Wright said: “This is just gross hypocrisy and makes me quite angry, because they pledged one thing to residents and are now doing exactly the other.”

Council leader Andrew Waller said there was “no doubting” the authority’s commitment to recycling, adding: “We would be committing the council to significant landfill tax if we didn’t do anything and we have to provide a practical solution for this city.”