New twist in ships battle

Oct 6 2007 By Paul Watson, The Journal

COUNCILLORS have deferred a decision on a controversial planning application that could decide whether so-called US “ghost ships” can be scrapped in Britain.

The decision could now rest with a Government planning inspector, with a public inquiry on a previous application due to start this week.

A row has raged for more than four years over whether the four ships from the US could be dismantled and recycled at a site near Hartlepool.

Hartlepool Borough Council’s planning committee refused planning permission previously and that refusal is the subject of an appeal which will be heard by at a Government planning inquiry on Tuesday.

Despite the appeal, Able UK submitted a second planning application and yesterday that was deferred until after the planning inquiry. The council’s planning committee met yesterday to hear the second planning application by Able UK, which secured a contract with the American authorities in July 2003 to dismantle the rusting vessels.

The application covered a range of proposals to extend the current use of the Able UK site to include the construction, repair, refurbishment and decommissioning of all types of ships, vessels and other craft, and for the manufacture of wind turbines.

It also covers a variety of other works including the construction and refurbishment of quays, construction of a cofferdam and new dock gates and the installation of a railway track.

Despite assurances from Able UK that there are no toxic materials on the four vessels, campaigners have fought the plans claiming they would be an environmental hazard. During yesterday’s stormy meeting protester Mike Young, 59, was ejected from the Borough Hall by police after refusing to leave. Mr Young, of Hartlepool Friends of the Earth, said: “This is scandalous. It is a democratic society and I am not allowed to speak.

“I wanted to question the validity of licences Able UK have but have been prevented from doing so.”

Able UK secured a contract with the US Maritime Administration in July 2003.

Four ships have already crossed the Atlantic and are moored at the Able UK site but the company has not been able to start work on them because of the planning wrangle and legal challenges.

During yesterday’s hearing Able UK’s managing director, Glyn Wheeler, told the committee that the site would be safe and well monitored and would pour millions of pounds into the local economy.

Objectors claim harmful toxins would be released during recycling and the work would have a massive environmental impact on the town.