A CAMPAIGNER who took on a Government minister in a last-gasp court bid to halt the development of a waste plant in Sinfin has lost her High Court battle.
Dorothy Skrytek challenged a decision by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles in a battle to stop the plant being built.
The High Court judge who heard the case earlier this month has now dismissed her argument that a planning inspector's decision to give the plans the go-ahead was unlawful.
It is a devastating blow to Miss Skrytek and pro- test group Sinfin and Spondon Against Incineration (SSAIN), which had supported her at the hearing, in Manchester.
The campaigners have long claimed that emissions from the waste plant would cause health problems for people living nearby.
Simon Bacon, of SSAIN, learned of the decision yesterday.
He said: "We haven't seen a full copy of the ruling but we have been told it has gone against us.
"We're disappointed. We've now got to review the ruling and see if there's any way forward from here.
"It could be quite devastating if there's no way forward. The community of Derby has fought this proposal for a number of years now."
Miss Skrytek was unavailable for comment.
Mr Pickles was named in the High Court battle because the latest decision to give the plant the green light was made by a planning inspector on his behalf.
At the hearing in Manchester, Miss Skrytek challenged the minister, the plant's would-be developer, Resource Recovery Solutions, and the city council which – along with Derbyshire County Council – has signed an agreement with RRS to deal with the county's household rubbish.
The plant is intended to deal with 200,000 tonnes of household waste a year.
RRS's plans were originally rejected by the city council's planning committee.
Last September, a planning inspector gave the plant the go-ahead.
It was this decision which Miss Skrytek challenged in Manchester.
Readers gave their reaction on the Derby Telegraph's thisisderbyshire.co.uk website:
WillCroft3 said it was a "sad day" for the whole of Derby. He posted: "Is this plant safe?
"One way or another, we will find out in about 25 or 30 years' time."
SubzeroV posted: "Well there's a surprise.....not!
"Don't think there was ever any other outcome. What an absolute farce."
And troy27 said the concerns of people in Derby had not been listened to.
