The long battle against the hated Hatfield incinerator has ended in victory for its opponents.

https://twitter.com/grantshapps/status/621959771852283904

The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government has this morning ruled against the proposal by Veolia and Hertfordshire County Council.

It follows an eight year battle about the hated plant.

Cllr John Dean, leader of Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, said: “We are very pleased that the Secretary of State has agreed that this site is not suitable for the incinerator.

“The unsuitability of the proposed location in Hatfield has been argued relentlessly by Members, officers and local residents and I would like to thank everyone who got involved and worked tirelessly to show the strength of feeling that existed within the community.

“We have never been opposed in principle to an ‘energy from waste’ solution to manage the county’s waste and will continue to work with our county colleagues to look at more appropriate ways of delivering this.”

The borough council spent more than £200,000 battling the controversial plans, which were initially approved by Herts County Council in 2012.

More to follow.