War of words continues between Suffolk councils over Sunnica

Legal action seeking a judicial review of aspects of the government's decision to allow the project to go ahead was started by four councils after new Energy Secretary Ed Miliband gave the project the go ahead just days after the general election.

But on Wednesday the legal action was dropped after West Suffolk Council and Cambridgeshire County Council - which both have Labour councillors in their administrations - decided to withdraw from it.

Conservative-controlled Suffolk County Council and East Cambridgeshire District Council had wanted to continue with the action but felt that would be too expensive with only two authorities shouldering the legal bills.

That prompted Suffolk County Council deputy cabinet member for major infrastructure Richard Rout to say he thought the Labour leadership on the two authorities could have come under pressure from party leaders in London to drop the action.

West Suffolk leader Cliff Waterman rejected this, saying: "This was only a legal challenge on one aspect of the decision.

Richard Rout, of Suffolk County Council (Image: Richard Rout)

"As a former teacher, Richard's comments remind me of the small boy who says 'It wasn't me, Sir, she made me do it!'

"There are better ways of clearing up the concerns that we had about the application than taking on an expensive court case."

In a statement issued by the council, Mr Waterman added: "This potential legal challenge was never about whether Sunnica would go ahead or not.

"It was a technical matter relating to the fees local planning authorities would receive for managing the planning process.

"If other councils feel that the application or its fees should be challenged through the courts, then there is still nothing to stop them from doing this, using their own funds.

"For our part, we do not believe this is a good use of scarce taxpayers’ money."