A COUNCIL investigation into the Newcastle toxic ash incinerator has been scrapped.
The five-strong inquiry team was disbanded this week without calling a single witness.
A working group of the city council's environment and public protection select committee was set up to look into how 2,000 tonnes of toxic ash from the city's Byker incinerator came to be spread on allotment paths and bridleways.
The plug was pulled after a threat of action by the Environment Agency, which said an investigation could prejudice possible criminal proceedings.
The select committee's chairman, Councillor Norman Povey, said: "We felt that it was important that this inquiry was held in public but, having taken heed of legal advice, we realise this is impossible now.
"It is vital that the people of Newcastle eventually receive a full explanation of how and why the ash was used, but clearly that will not now happen in the near future.
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