Firm scraps its proposal for Cobham incinerator
A waste company has scrapped plans for an incinerator on land in Surrey once used as a development site for the Dambusters bouncing bomb.
SAS Waste Ltd had wanted to build a wood burning power station in Cobham.
Its application had been due to be heard at a public inquiry in March after it was rejected by both Elmbridge Borough Council and the county council.
The company said it had now withdrawn its appeal and had no plans for another application on the site.
In a statement it said it had held "long and considered discussions" with local stakeholders, including Surrey Environmental Guardians and No Elmbridge Waste Incinerator Group, and had made its decision "by way of mutual agreement".
However, it said a long term solution still needed to be found for the site, which had "lain derelict for decades".
The scheme was originally rejected because of harm to the green belt.
Campaigners had also been fighting a five-year battle to stop it, saying the area around the Redhill Road site was used by golfers, cyclists, dog walkers and horse riders.
The land is surrounded by a golf course, an equestrian centre, houses and an old people's home.
Protester Mike Linley said opposition had been almost 100%.
He said during World War Two, Nissen huts on the site were used by engineer Sir Barnes Wallis during the development of the bouncing bomb, later dropped on German dams in the Dambuster raids.