Pickles overrules council on nuclear waste

The communities secretary, Eric Pickles, has approved plans to bury 250,000 tonnes of radioactive waste at the East Northants landfill site near Peterborough. The plan was refused by Northamptonshire county council but Pickles upheld the appeal by hazardous waste disposal company Augean. The move was met with outrage among people living in Northamptonshire. In a local poll, 98% of residents voted against dumping the waste. Campaigners Kings Cliffe Waste Watchers said: "In overturning the decision of the county council, and the wishes of all local government organs, he [Ed Pickles] has hardly demonstrated the level of commitment expected from one who is trying to steer localism". The department for communities and local government defended the move. "This is an existing landfill site which handles hazardous waste," it said. "Having considered all the evidence and representations, the minister has accepted the expert planning advice that granting a temporary planning permission for additional waste would not be harmful to the local community."

Guardian Professional, Thursday 26 May 2011 15.07 BST