THE decision on whether a controversial waste gasification plant will be built in Chesterfield will now not be made until June.
Derbyshire County Council has put back the date when it will consider plans for the Sheepbridge Resource Park on Dunston Lane, following a request from developers Cyclamax.
Cyclamax have asked for the delay because June is when the Environment Age
ncy is due to approve the environmental permit for its gasification plant and when one of their similar developments in Scotland will be up and running.
But protesters against the plans say the news of yet another delay has been met with disappointment.
Julie Harrington, spokeswoman for campaign group, Chesterfield Against Incineration, said: "It seems quite incredible that after nearly two years Cyclamax is now suddenly claiming it is not ready for a decision to be made and are demanding more time to sort themselves out.
"It is extremely frustrating to say the least.
"We never asked for this development to be imposed on us, we have nothing whatsoever to gain from it.
"We have families and businesses that we'd be much rather spending our time on.
"However the arguments against the location and nature of this development are so strong that no matter how long Cyclamax try to delay things, we will keep voicing our objections and presenting the evidence on which planning permission can and should be rejected."
Over 11,000 objections against the incinerator have been made, with the main concerns being over the health implications of emissions created by burning rubbish so close to homes and over the suitability of local roads for HGV lorries travelling to and from the site.
A Derbyshire County Council spokesman confirmed that the planning hearing to determine the application will be held in June, following a request to delay the meeting from Cyclamax.
The county council also stated that there is no link between the Cyclamax planning application and an application for a waste treatment facility in Derby, which was submitted by Resource Recovery Solutions and refused by Derby City Council.
The plant at Sinfin would have dealt with municipal rubbish which cannot be recycled in the future and the county council is part-funding the company's appeal against the decision.
He said: "Alternatives to providing the facility would cost the councils — and ultimately taxpayers — much more.
"Therefore, the two councils have agreed to jointly fund 90 per cent of the appeal costs in line with Government guidance."
