FIFTEEN Worcestershire councillors have been cleared of any wrongdoing over their decision to allow a controversial recycling plant to be built at Norton.

Norton resident Chris Morag had complained to the Standards Board that 15 county councillors brought their office into disrepute through their involvement in the approval of the EnviroSort facility, which will sort more than 100,000 tonnes of recycleable household rubbish from across Worcestershire every year.

The council’s planning committee granted permission for the plant at a hearing last summer, despite considerable local opposition.

Many of the councillors accused by Ms Morag were members of the committee.

Ms Morag made a raft of complaints, including allegations that the councillors were disrespectful, abdicated their responsibilities, harboured prejudicial interests, compromised their impartiality, and used their office to secure an advantage for the authority.

Following a recent change in legislation, complaints against councillors are now dealt with locally by councils’ own standards committees, and this was the first time County Hall has had to deal with such a matter internally.

After two lengthy hearings behind closed doors, it was decided that the accused members had no case to answer.

Andy Fry was one of the councillors who sat in judgement. “I was very impressed with the process,” he told a meeting of the Standards Committee.

“I was also impressed with the level of detail the complainant went into – right or wrong, it was a very detailed report and it certainly gave us something to think about.

“I was very pleased to see we take everything very seriously, as I knew we would. We took a decision on each individual point and I think we didn’t skimp on anything. I think we gave the correct answer.”

However, Ms Morag told the Worcester News she was not satisfied with the outcome.

She said: “I was and still am dissatisfied with the handling and result of the investigation, but was told the matter is now closed. It is my intention to write to the Standards Board about this.

“I have had to chase for an outcome since July 2007, and frankly find the whole matter tedious and draining – which is why most people probably don’t complain, or just give up. But on a point of principle I have pursued the complaint because of a sense of injustice with the process involved. “ Construction work has now begun at Norton on the EnviroSort facility, which is due to open in September 2009.