PLANS to scrap a controversial French aircraft carrier in the region have been approved by the Environment Agency.

The Le Clemenceau is expected to arrive at Able UK’s Seaton Port TERRC facility before the end of next month – depending on weather conditions.

Environmental campaigners launched a long-running legal battle to prevent the vessel from being dismantled because of asbestos fears.

But now the path has been cleared for the work to begin on the 32,700-tonne ship.

Able UK chairman and chief executive Peter Stephenson welcomed the decision, saying: “As the Environment Agency themselves point out, every aspect of our plans for the development of the facility – and the contract for the Q790 – have been subject to the closest possible scrutiny and there can now be no doubt that TERRC is a world-class centre for undertaking ship and marine recycling to the highest possible practicable environmental standards.”

Earlier this month, campaigners lost an appeal against a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) ruling that raised no objections to the scheme to strip the ship at docks near Hartlepool.

The vessel had been denied entry to a number of countries for safety reasons. However, Able UK secured a deal to break it up at its Graythorp yard and the HSE granted the company an exemption to asbestos regulations.

Now the Environment Agency has cleared the way for the vessel to be transported to the UK.

Environment manager Bob Pailor, for the Environment Agency, said: “The consent to import this vessel from Brest – where it is docked – to the Able UK facility at Graythorp will be valid for 12 months.

“One of our primary considerations in granting consent for the import of the Q790 was whether Able UK had the infrastructure, permissions and environmental standards in place to dismantle and recycle the former French naval vessel. Following a rigorous technical assessment, we are now satisfied on all these points.”

Iris Ryder, from Friends of Hartlepool, was shocked to learn the news that permission had been granted.

She said: “In the light of this latest news, we will have to reassess the legal ramifications of this decision, which is inflicting great distress on the people of this town.”