MINISTERS should review the use of incineration as a method of dealing with waste, Newport opposition councillors said.

Councillor Bob Bright, leader of the Labour group at Newport council, told a full council meeting he has written to environment minister and Newport East AM John Griffiths expressing the group’s opposition to proposals for an incinerator in Llanwern.

But Tory Cllr David Fouweather, the Newport cabinet member responsible for waste, has hit back claiming the current Welsh leader of Mr Bright’s party said in 2006 that an incinerator was needed in the region.

In the letter to Mr Griffiths, Mr Bright expressed concerns about Prosiect Gwyrdd – a project between five councils which is looking at several options to deal with non-recyclable waste, including an incinerator in Llanwern.

“There are better ways of achieving recycling targets than current waste incineration methods,” Mr Bright wrote.

But in full council Cllr Fouweather brandished a letter, written in 2006 by then environment minister Carwyn Jones AM, to another consortium of South East Wales councils stating there was an urgent need for an “energy from waste” incinerator in the region.

“I recognise this may be politically difficult to deliver,”

Mr Jones had written.

Cllr Fouweather told the meeting: “This is from Carwyn Jones, your leader!

In 2006... it would have come to your attention!”

Cllr Bob Bright replied that “Carwyn Jones will speak for himself,” adding: “The fact that Mr Jones was in favour does not make the Labour party in Wales in favour.”

Labour was criticised for not taking part in a crosscouncil scrutiny forum on Prosiect Gwyrdd.

Cllr Bright said he would be delighted to go on the committee.

A Prosiect Gwyrdd Spokesman, said: "A legal agreement is in place between the five authorities to set out how the partnership is governed.

"If any partner authority withdraws from the partnership, a cost is incurred for their proportion of the procurement cost. This is capped at a maximum of £3M and is not related to any technology proposal or planning issue."