A DECISION on the future of Cornwall Council's multi-million contract with waste contractor Sita UK, which plans to build a huge incinerator in the county, is expected to be made today.

The council's cabinet will meet this morning to discuss a recommendation from its waste development advisory panel to continue the £427 million, 30-year contract with Sita.

The panel has also recommended the council and Sita and work together on a revised plan for the so-called Cornwall Energy Recovery Centre (CERC) at St Dennis.

Last month, the panel recommended Sita be requested to propose a revised project plan in accordance with its integrated waste management contract and the county's waste guidelines.

The revised project plan could be worked on alongside the public inquiry into the decision taken last March by the then county council's planning committee to refuse permission for the incinerator at St Dennis. The public inquiry is due to begin on March 16.

Campaigners fear the energy-from-waste plant, with a 390ft chimney, would blight the community. They also want other measures, including greater recycling and cleaner technological solutions, to be considered.

But the council fears it would cost between £35 million and £50 million to terminate the contract with Sita, and a further £166 million in added landfill tax and landfill allowance trading costs over a nine-year period.

Today's cabinet meeting comes two days after the WMN exclusively revealed communications between council staff and Sita on how to handle the media and councillors after public concerns over the creation of the CERC in St Dennis.

Pat Blanchard, chairman of St Dennis Anti Incinerator Group, will be attending today's meeting.

She told the WMN that residents had been taken on an emotional rollercoaster since discussions about the energy-from-waste plant began.

She said: "The effect this whole affair has had on the community overall has been very challenging. We have had our hopes raised and we've had them dashed frequently over the last few years.

"The planning application for the incinerator was refused by Cornwall County Council, but then Sita appealed.

"I think we all knew that was going to happen, so now we have to wait for the results of the planning inquiry.

"Generally, people in St Dennis and the surrounding areas are very concerned about the planned incinerator.

"There are a whole raft of reasons for it – environmental and human. Whatever Sita says about the cleanliness of its incinerator, it will not improve the quality of air in St Dennis."

The meeting, at County Hall in Truro, begins at 10am.