Janet Ryder:"appalled."

Plaid Cymru had planned to call for a halt to the construction of incinerators at Wrexham and at Crymlyn Burrows near Swansea.

North Wales AM Janet Ryder, who had arranged for assembly members to meet campaigners after the debate, said that she was "appalled".

Ms Ryder said: "There was absolutely no consultation before this very important debate was pulled, allegedly because of lack of time.

"Plaid Cymru made it clear that we were prepared to allow time for the debate to continue," she added.

"The Labour/Liberal administration...turned the whole thing into a shambles by their actions."

Detailed plans

Last month the company behind plans for a �25m incinerator and recycling plant in Wrexham unveiled details of the scheme.

HLC said the plant would be able to deal with 120,000 tonnes of waste a year.

They claim that 40% of the waste would be composted or recycled, 35% would be turned into energy and the remainder would be disposed of at landfill sites.

HLC have already submitted a detailed planning application to Wrexham County Borough Council.

During the planned assembly debate on Tuesday campaigners against the scheme had hoped to persuade Environment Minister Sue Essex to call in the incinerator plans.

Labour's high-handed actions have stifled debate and discussion

Janet Ryder AM

They were also planning to call for a halt to the construction of another incinerator in Crymlyn Burrows near Swansea.

Ms Ryder said:"What is certain is that Labour's own worries have surfaced here - worries about the challenge to their waste strategy which includes the building of potentially hazardous incinerators, despite the fears of local communities.

"Labour's high-handed actions have stifled debate and discussion."

The company's project manager Steve Burnett last month insisted that their research showed that levels of dioxins produced by the scheme would be well within acceptable limits.

However, he admitted that a problem with sulphur dioxides had been identified which means a further filtration process will now be added.