This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/8093931.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Incinerator vote 'may be invalid' Incinerator vote 'may be invalid'
(40 minutes later)
A Belfast City Council vote to ban the building of a waste incinerator on the north foreshore of Belfast Lough may be invalid, the BBC has learned.A Belfast City Council vote to ban the building of a waste incinerator on the north foreshore of Belfast Lough may be invalid, the BBC has learned.
The decision not to build an energy from waste incinerator on the site at Dargan Road was passed by one vote at a council meeting on Tuesday night.The decision not to build an energy from waste incinerator on the site at Dargan Road was passed by one vote at a council meeting on Tuesday night.
However, the council has said there was "an irregularity in the vote".However, the council has said there was "an irregularity in the vote".
BBC NI environment correspondent Mike McKimm said this could mean the vote may have actually been a tie.BBC NI environment correspondent Mike McKimm said this could mean the vote may have actually been a tie.
Council members have been informed and a special meeting is to be held on Friday to discuss the issue after legal advice has been sought.Council members have been informed and a special meeting is to be held on Friday to discuss the issue after legal advice has been sought.
Environment minister Sammy Wilson, who also sits on the council, said he abstained from Tuesday's vote.
"I had been given advice that it might be best not to be involved in the vote and indeed anyway that my vote might not be needed," he said.
"I have now clarified my position and there is no difficulty in me voting on it and I am quite happy to nail my colours to the mast on this one, because there is an obligation on us to get the cheapest way of dealing with waste for ratepayers."
Arc 21, a group of councils in the east of Northern Ireland, wanted the council to accept the proposals so the facility could be built by 2016.Arc 21, a group of councils in the east of Northern Ireland, wanted the council to accept the proposals so the facility could be built by 2016.
The incinerator would have been an Energy from Waste (EfW) plant which Arc 21 said could have provided power for 40,000 homes.The incinerator would have been an Energy from Waste (EfW) plant which Arc 21 said could have provided power for 40,000 homes.
A consultation survey with Belfast ratepayers has also indicated that more than 90% were in favour of it being built on the site.A consultation survey with Belfast ratepayers has also indicated that more than 90% were in favour of it being built on the site.