CHESHIRE West and Chester Council (CWAC) has not been in discussions with TATA over changing the specifications of its approved energy from waste plant.

The assurance was offered by the council’s principal planning enforcement officer Rod Brookfield in response to concerns by Wincham Parish Council over the scheme.

Parish council clerk Naomi Morris wrote to CWAC to express the council’s “severe misgivings that TATA intend materially to change the specifications of the waste incinerator for which they have planning permission - this is a matter of immense local concern.”

She said in her letter: “Planning permission was granted to build a 600,000 tonnes per annum 60MW waste incinerator at Lostock Gralam.

“It now appears TATA intend only to build a 300,000 tonnes waste incinerator. A halving of the capacity of the incinerator in this way would be a material change to the planning permission.”

In his reply Mr Brookfield said: “I understand Wincham Parish Council has raised concerns that TATA have announced they intend to materially change the specifications of the approved plant to reduce the input of waste from 600,000 tonnes per annum to 300,000 tonnes, which would in turn reduce the energy output.

“You have asked if this is the position as understood by Cheshire West and Chester Council.

“I can confirm that so far, the council has not been party to any discussions, meetings or negotiations with TATA on this matter. The original planning permission stands.

“Should TATA decide to materially change the built development of the facility, such as new road layouts, reduction in size of plant or buildings, a new planning application would need to be submitted to the planning authority for consideration and a new round of public consultation would commence.

“Should the facility be built in accordance with the permission, but the actual capacity be reduced, this would not require a new planning application.

“TATA has not submitted any discharge of condition applications in order to start work on the facility, and until such time as the council is made aware of any proposals the original permission remains in place.”

A spokesman from Tata Chemicals Europe said: “TCE Ltd will, in undertaking its Energy from Waste plans, comply with all relevant planning permissions, consents and legislation.”