Updated: THE scheme for a £1.4 billion waste incinerator between York and Harrogate has cleared another hurdle after North Yorkshire councillors gave the scheme the go-ahead.

Members of North Yorkshire County Council voted 49-19 in favour of awarding a 25-year contract to operate the plant, earmarked to be built at the Allerton quarry and landfill site near the A1, to Spanish firm AmeyCespa yesterday. The vote was held after protesters launched the latest wave of their campaign against the plans outside County Hall in Northallerton, where a full meeting of the authority was held.

Police stood outside County Hall, Northallerton, while council security staff stood in the council chamber, after claims of “alarming” abusive and threatening emails to councillors.

About 90 members of North Yorkshire Waste Action Group (NYWAG) chanted and waved signs outside, led by chairman, Steve Wright who presented petitions carrying nearly 10,000 signatures. The meeting was relayed by speakers outside for those who could not get in.

Twelve protesters addressed the meeting and described the incinerator plan as “a massive white elephant for North Yorkshire council tax payers” and “a financial disaster”.

One speaker, Dave Taylor, accused the councillors of taking “a leap into the dark” and “flinging £1.4 billion of tax-payers’ money” into the hands of AmeyCespa without considering other options.

But Clare Wood, executive member for waste services, said there was no viable long-term alternative that did not involve some form of incineration unless those present believed in the “waste fairy”.

The council says the Allerton Waste Recovery Park will allow them to outstrip their targets of recycling 50 per cent of waste by 2020, provide enough energy to power about 40,000 homes and avoid them being hit by huge landfill tax bills in the future.