CAMPAIGNERS against the incinerator planned at Colnbrook have won a small reprieve. Councillors from the West London Waste Authority (WLWA) have voted to go out to tender, rather than sign a lucrative contract immediately.

Campaigners say the incinerator, would spread radioactive waste across a 17-mile radius, including Ealing.

For the planned incinerator to go ahead, the company building it, Grundon Waste Management, need contracts from the six London boroughs through the WLWA to agree to dispose of their waste.

But at a meeting on Friday, September 17th, councillors on the WLWA voted for a compromise. The contract would have been for 100,000 tones of waste a year for the next 20 years to be burnt by Grundon.

But the councillors agreed, by a majority of four to two, to go out to tender to dispose of 100,000 tonnes of waste for a shorter period.

Cllr John Delaney (Ealing, Labour), was one of the councillors in favour of the compromise contract.

Bill Perry, campaigner for SAIN (Slough Anti-Incinerator Network) said: "This represents a sensible compromise. We are still very unhappy about West London Waste signing contracts before they have even drafted their waste strategy. But they are now embracing more sustainable methods of waste methods which avoid the air pollution and health risks associated with incineration."

Margaret Salasidis, waste campaigner for West London Friends of the Earth, said: "We have recently heard a major speech by Tony Blair where he talked about the huge threat of climate change. But the proposed incinerator at Colnbrook would pump out vast quantities of greenhouse gases, accelerating climate change.

"Perhaps some at least some of the councillors were mindful of his comments when they took the vote on Friday."

Grundon did not wish to comment.