PLANS to send 300,000 tonnes of West London Rubbish to Northwich have been scrapped after Tata Chemicals Europe and E.ON Energy withdrew from the tendering process for the contract.

The two companies, who plan to build an energy from waste plant in Lostock Gralam, had bid on a £500m contract, put out to tender by the West London Waste Authority (WLWA), to treat the waste for the next 25 years.

But after deciding that the contract was not right for them, Tata and E.ON withdrew their bid, but assures it is not the end for its Lostock plans.

A spokesman for E.ON, Tata and John Laing Investments said: “The Consortium decided to withdraw from the tender process for the WLWA contract and did not submit a final bid prior to the submission deadline.

“However, it will continue with its plans to secure substantial quantities of waste from other sources to fuel the sustainable energy plant at Lostock.”

Brian Cartwright, chairman of the Cheshire Anti Incinerator Network (CHAIN), which is currently challenging the Secretary of State’s approval of Tata and E.ON’s plans, said: “We must give a guarded welcome to this decision because it was always irresponsible nonsense to be seriously contemplating sending Londoners’ rubbish halfway up the country to Cheshire to be incinerated.

“We are concerned that Tata and E.ON say that they intend to seek other contracts to supply waste to feed the monster they want to build practically in the centre of Northwich.

“It is to be hoped that they will pause before they do so and review the whole basis of their project.

“CHAIN and the people of Northwich have been fighting together against an incinerator in the town for more than five years and we are determined to stay in the fight for as long as it takes.

“We are very hopeful that our legal challenge will succeed although we are still seeking financial support from the public which would improve our prospects.”

CHAIN’s judicial review of Tata and E.ON’s plans is expected to be heard in the High Court at Manchester on May 1.