AS the debate over the recently-approved Javelin Park incinerator rages on the leader of Stroud District Council has penned a letter calling for a technical and financial review of the project.

SDC leader Geoff Wheeler has written the open letter to the leader of Gloucestershire County Council Mark Hawthorne, urging him to consider a review “before decisions become irrevocable”.

The letter signed, in addition to Cllr Wheeler himself, by Conservative leader Keith Pearson, Green Party leader Martin Whiteside and Liberal Democrat leader Paul Hemming.

In the opening of his letter, Cllr Wheeler reaffirms SDC’s opposition to the incinerator, suggesting that the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Eric Pickles and his planning inspector have “effectively discounted the environmental and landscape impact.”

He goes on to write of the significant changes that have occurred since the plan was initially proposed and passed through the council, pointing out that the plans may not be as relevant as relevant as they were at first.

It is the end of the letter where Cllr Wheeler reaches the crux of his point.

He writes: “We propose that we jointly commission a report from respected and independent waste/energy consultants to review the technical options and their financial profiles over the contract period.

“The council would financially contribute to this. This does not have to be complicated or drawn out. We think it in the public interest to have one last look at the technological solution before decisions become irrevocable.”

Putting political differences to one side, SDC party leaders have co-signed the letter in an effort to give further weight to the request.

Liberal Dem leader Cllr Hemming described the incinerator as a “17th century solution to a 21st century problem” while Cllr Pearson, of the conservatives, has argued that one more look at the plans and their alternatives would be in everybody’s benefit.

Cllr Pearson said that the county council is “absolutely right” to want to treat refuse in a way other than landfill, but said “the issue has always been the scale and impact on the landscape of this proposal”.

Cllr Whiteside, leader of SDC’s Green Party, reinforced Cllr Wheeler’s points regarding stating that the original plans for the incinerator were examined in a different social and environmental context.

He said: “Technology has moved on since the incinerator was tendered; recycling is increasing, the waste available is not increasing as the original business case projected and the overall waste treatment capacity in the private and public sector is expanding.

“Indeed by the time the incinerator might be built we are likely to have over-capacity and we would be left with an enormously expensive white elephant. This review is in the public interest; it is our money that is about to be spent, and we have a right to an up-to-date, independent and transparent analysis.

“I hope the county council is not afraid to have someone else look at their business case before irrevocable decisions are taken.”

Two weeks ago the county council’s labour party called for an extraordinary meeting in attempt to hold a vote to cancel the project, a move which Liberal Democrats labelled "hasty".

After delaying his decision three times, Mr Pickles approved the development of the incinerator

As it stands, UBB, who have the contract to design and construct the incinerator, will be reviewing the Secretary of State's decision in full and construction will begin as soon as possible.