Action group to be created on incinerator

An independent action group will be set up to fight plans for a controversial £120 million incinerator, it emerged today.

The group will be made up of members of Hartlebury Parish Council and residents from the village concerned about plans for the development on a trading estate at the village, near Kidderminster.

It is expected to be formed early in the New Year during a special meeting of the parish council scheduled for January 14.

But while members of the parish councillors will be involved in the group it will be entirely independent of the parish council itself.

Members said the multi-million pound plan had "taken on a life of its own" and already overshadowed the council's other work since Mercia Waste Management (MWM) announced the scheme last month.

The new group will be able to devote itself solely to campaigning against the incinerator plans. If approved the development would convert household waste from Worcestershire and Hereford into electricity and would operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is estimated the incinerator would take in 200,000 tons of waste each year.

Chairman of Hartlebury Parish Council Jenny Jones said: "Members of the parish council will be in the action group but as residents more than parish councillors.

"We want villagers to have a more hands-on approach when deciding the ways this campaign should be fought.

"We cannot simply have it solely as a parish council-led issue. It is too large a subject and over the past few weeks has understandably taken on a life of its own.

"There is already a liaison group set up in the village which has focused on the new Biffa waste site. They may wish to take part in the new group." MWM spokesman Caroline McDonald said all residents' views would be taken into account.