AN 11th-hour bid has been made to stop the building of the energy-from-waste plant. New St Sampson’s deputy Scott Ogier is the leader of a requete calling for a delay until an independent review of the proposal and the practical alternatives has been carried out.

Anti-plant campaigners believe the incinerator scheme had been poorly planned, was too costly and would have a negative impact on the environment.

If the requete were successful and a more suitable alternative found, the proposed plant might never be built.

‘The overall cost of the mass incinerator will be a burden to the people and commerce of Guernsey. People will be paying £72m., or probably more, and that will come out of the rates,’ Deputy Ogier said yesterday.

‘That is against the principle of polluter pays because it means that even if I recycle items, I still pay the same.’

Deputy Ogier was critical of the lack of planning for the toxic waste by-product of incineration. He was also concerned that the States was set to publish a solid waste management plan after deciding on the incinerator.

He said that the size and location of the plant, which was approved by the previous House, would also have a significant negative impact on the environment.

‘The mass-burn incinerator is in the twilight of its existence. I am not set against it completely if it is the only way, but there needs to be more scope for the separation of waste. This is not a particularly sophisticated way for the disposal of waste in the modern era, particularly as there is not even a materials sorting facility.

‘The new laws for material separation in the UK mean there is increasingly more technology available for waste disposal and I think we should look at other places which are able to do it.

‘I want an independent panel to look at the licensing issues surrounding them.

‘We have been told that the alternative schemes had problems but I want to see if that completely accurate,’ said Deputy Ogier.

Signatory Dan Le Cheminant said that the States had to be sure it was making the right choice. He was concerned about overspending on other projects put forward by the former Board of Administration.

‘The States has accepted quite a few Board of Administration projects over the last few years, such as the refurbishment of St Peter Port Harbour, which have cost a lot more than we thought originally.

‘I’m not sure if it was the board’s fault or whether the advice they were given was not right because we have got a situation again at the airport where it looks as though we have quite possibly gone well over budget.’

Like the other deputies, he was also concerned about the look and impact of the new building.

Deputy Dave Jones supported the mounting pressure to revise the incinerator’s design and backed an independent evaluation.

‘I don’t think the new House should shy away from revisiting this. We have to ask the question whether we can really afford this, especially when you think about the tight budgets Health, Education and Housing are on.’

Deputy Jones said it was ‘laughable’ to spend £100m. on the project.

Deputy Ogier hoped that his requete would be debated in July.

Building work would not start until after the final contract has been signed in early July. He said this could be put back until after a July States debate, but admitted that it was unlikely to be postponed until after a September sitting.

‘I believe it is entirely feasible that we will have the opportunity to ask for a review in July. I think many people in Guernsey are unhappy about the cost and I have gestures of support from quite a few deputies.’

A spokesman for the Environment Department said it was aware of the requete, but did not wish to comment.