Ghost Ships
Give up the ghost ships fight, urges council chief
A senior councillor has launched a scathing attack on his town hall colleagues for blocking the controversial bid to dismantle the so-called Ghost Ships.
Reclamation company Able UK has been battling for more than three years to carry out an £11m deal to scrap 13 former US Navy ships at its site on Teesside.
The latest setback for the Graythorp firm came last month when councillors ignored expert advice and denied Able planning permission.
But last night, long-serving Hartlepool Borough councillor Bill Iseley, a former planning committee chairman, criticised the move, which could cost taxpayers more than half-a- million pounds.
If, as expected, the company appeals against the decision and wins at a public inquiry, the council will be hit with a £600,000 bill for costs.
Councillor Iseley said: "There is no shame in backing away from a contest which will be highly expensive and impossible to win - no general would take his troops to fight a losing battle.
"I know councillors have been very sincere in coming to a view, but I do think it would be far more sensible to take on board the advice from our planning officers and other professionals."
Four of the 13 ships are already docked at the Able yard, having sailed from the James River in Virginia amid a political storm on both sides of the Atlantic in October 2003.
A campaign led by Friends of the Earth and locals forced the Environment Agency to announce that requirements allowing the company to break the ships had not been met.
Protestors claimed the vessels - described as "rotting and disintegrating" in an official US report - contained asbestos and dangerous chemicals.
But Able officials insisted the ships were safe, and spent more than two years modifying planning applications to the council and Environment Agency.
In October, councillors voted overwhelmingly to reject the amended plans, and stood by the decision last month at a secret session when many expected them to perform a U-turn to avoid the costly battle.
Coun Iseley, a former mayor who has served the council for more than 44 years, issued the attack during his annual toast, which will be his last due to ill-health.
Able UK could not be contacted to react to the councillor's call for planners to look for a third time at the application - and approve it.
9:12am Tuesday 2nd January 2007
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