ACCUSATIONS of ‘skullduggery’ and suggestions that Shire Hall should be renamed Wolf Hall set the tone during Labour’s motion to cancel the Javelin Park incinerator.

Three Ukip councillors swung the vote by backing the Conservatives in favour of the £500m mass burner.

At the extraordinary meeting at Gloucestershire County Council on Wednesday, the call to cancel the contract with Urbaser Balfour Beatty was defeated 27 votes to 24.

Defending their decision leader of the Ukip group, Councillor Alan Preest said: “We were put in a position which was not in our making.

“Certainly, that’s the most difficult decision I have made in 14 years.

“When you are faced with writing off £100m there is some soul searching to be done.” He said.

GlosVAIN chairman, Sue Oppenheimer presented a petition of more than 7,000 signatures that were demanding that the incinerator contract be scrapped.

Labour, the Lib Dems and the Greens accused the Conservatives of “recklessness” and “sheer arrogance” in signing the contract.

The Conservatives said that there were “misconceptions” and “conspiracy theories” circulating about the contract.

Gloucestershire County Council leader Cllr Mark Hawthorne said that cancelling the contract would be “financial suicide”.

He said that members had a simple choice: “Is MBT cheaper? No.

“Is energy from waste unsafe? No.

“And no, of course we can’t afford a £100m bill.”

He said that there was “misinformation in the public domain.”

However Green Cllr Sarah Lunnon interrupted him in saying: “That’s the whole point Mark, we’d like to see the facts.”

Calling the contract a “disgrace” Cllr Paul Hodgkinson said: “We are democratically elected, why can we not see everything in that contract?

“And more importantly the public have a right to see how their tax payer’s money has been spent.”

Labour’s Cllr Stephen Lydon added: “You’ve hidden the contract from us; there have been numerous freedom of information requests.

“Because of the skulduggery, lies and double dealings we should change the name of Shire Hall to Wolf Hall.” He said.

Opposers are now pinning their hopes on Stroud District Council’s request for a Judicial Review to challenge Eric Pickles’ decision to grant approval for the controversial incinerator.