Infrastructure Minister Tim Baker has come under fire after refusing to reveal what advice led to the decision not to continue using Wright’s Pit North for ’problematic waste’.

Wright’s Pit North, in Bride, is due to close at the end of the year and Mr Baker had already stated there were no plans to continue using the tip, even though an alternative site for construction waste had not been found.

Then, in the Keys last week, Chris Thomas (Douglas Central) asked whether Mr Baker would publish expert advice from the government scientist, environmental health and waste management officers.

In a written reply, Mr Baker said: ’The department does not plan to publish any advice from the government scientist, environmental health and waste management officers in respect of options for the disposal and treatment of problematic waste.’

It was the second time Mr Baker had rejected a call from Mr Thomas to publish the evidence, having told Tynwald last month he was ’not quite sure’ exactly what the former policy and reform minister was asking for.

Those refusals were branded ’outrageous’ by Daphne Caine (Garff), who had raised the issue in Tynwald last month.

In reply to her question at the October sitting, Mr Baker said there were about 14,400 cubic metres of capacity left at Wright’s Pit, equating to about 12 years. The site received an average of 28 tonnes of waste per week.

’This consists largely of asbestos, man-made mineral fibres and plasterboard,’ the minister said.

’In terms of a long-term solution, the department is committed to the development of a fully engineered landfill facility for all types of problematic waste, including those currently managed at Wright’s Pit North, as part of the range of waste treatment solutions that the Island needs to maintain our social, economic and environmental well-being.’

But he conceded there ’may be a need for short-term solutions’ until a new facility was operational.

The minister, who is MHK for Ayre and Michael, said there would be a planning application for a replacement site ’very soon’. He told Tynwald there was a ’long-standing commitment’ that Wright’s Pit North site would be closed and restored.

However, he added: ’We are able to find some contingency arrangements should there be a gap between the Wright’s Pit North facility closing and the replacement opening.

’Given the nature of the waste that we are talking about, which is asbestos, man-made mineral fibres and plasterboard, those can be stored in a transitionary arrangement in this gap, but I would have far preferred for us not to be having to do that and for the long-term solution to be in place. But that is not where we are currently.’

Speaking this week, Mrs Caine said: ’It is outrageous that the minister can say that DoI does not plan to publish any of the scientific advice on the options for disposal of problematic waste - why not?

’It makes me wonder if they have actually done any work to find an alternative solution or if they have even sought technical advice.’

Mr Baker has also said the department was investigating the possibility of silt from the dredging of Peel marina, while not being dumped untreated at Wright’s Pit North, it could be used as part of a restoration of the site, ’subject to proper finalisation of testing and the necessary approvals’.

Mrs Caine told the Courier: ’It’s astonishing that the minister admitted there would be 12 years’ capacity at Wright’s Pit North at the current rate of disposal but he was determined to shut the facility next month before finding a temporary or long-term solution for disposing of problematic construction waste.

’It doesn’t make any sense - and the comment that no de-watered silt from Peel would be "dumped" there but only used to "restore" the site just makes a mockery of our waste strategy.’