A SECOND delay to the Javelin Park incinerator decision has led to accusations of political interference for electoral gain.

It was announced this week that Secretary of State Eric Pickles would not be able to make a decision on the proposed £500 million incinerator at Haresfield until Christmas.

A decision was originally due in September but was delayed until the end of November.

Mr Pickles said that to allow everyone involved the time to deal with new planning policy and new planning practice guidance, the date had been pushed back again to Monday, December 22.

This week opposition parties in Stroud have accused Mr Pickles of being politically motivated in his decision to delay the process in order to protect Neil Carmichael.

David Drew, Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Stroud, said if the decision is delayed much longer it will end up being made after the General Election - less than 32 weeks away.

“It feels as if the deadline is now vanishing into the distance and if it continues to be delayed until after the election then the Tories will not have to face any fall-out from the result beforehand.

“It’s beginning to feel like a political decision for that reason.”

Mr Drew also claimed that because the county council won’t reveal how much the cost of cancelling the incinerator contract until after Mr Pickle’s decision, and if this is delayed until after the General Election it would mean local people going to the ballot box without being aware of the costs and who is responsible.

Meanwhile county councillor Sarah Lunnon (Green, Stroud) said that the decision to delay is based on protecting Neil Carmichael in May 2015.

Cllr Lunnon proposed the motion last month asking for councillors to be told the costs of cancelling the incinerator contract which was voted down by the Conservative and Labour group.

“Rather than support my call for councillors to be given immediately the costs of delay and cancellation of the incinerator so we could determine if the project was viable the Labour group instead voted with Tory support to write to Eric Pickles asking if he would mind hurrying up,” added Cllr Lunnon.

“Let’s hope the Secretary of State has a recycling bin because that’s where their letter ended up.

Mr Carmichael has refuted any claims that the delay is a way of ‘protecting’ him ahead of General Election.

“Firstly it would be inappropriate for Mr Pickles to delay his decision for any political reason,” said Mr Carmichael.

“He has made the decision to delay in order to take into account other evidence, which given the scale of the proposal would be improper not to consider.

Stroud District Council is Labour-led and it is the body which has added extra content and therefore delayed the process of deliberation.

“As I have made very clear I am opposed to the incinerator proposal and just want an answer as well.”

Cllr Ray Theodoulou, cabinet member for finance and change at GCC, said: “We are clearly frustrated by this further three-week delay, however, we appreciate the Secretary of State is keen to make the right decision on such an important issue.

“If approved, the facility will make an important change in the way that Gloucestershire deals with the household waste of its 600,000 residents, diverting over 92 per cent of our waste from landfill.

“It will make a significant impact on tackling climate change by removing 40,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide and save local people more than £150million over the next 25 years.”