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Hundreds campaign against planned waste incinerator

Rebecca Wood,BBC Midlands Todayand
Shehnaz Khan,BBC News, West Midlands
BBC Residents gather at a protest. Some are holding placards and signs opposing the plans for the clinical waste incinerator. BBC
Residents said they feared emissions from the planned incinerator could pose a risk to public health

Hundreds of people have gathered to protest against plans for a new clinical waste incinerator in a village in Staffordshire.

Residents fear the incinerator, which would be based close to a primary school in Hixon, could pose a risk to public health.

The company behind the proposals, In Waste, said it had carried out a full suite of environmental assessments and that emissions would remain within "acceptable limits".

The application is due to be heard at Staffordshire County Council's planning committee meeting on 3 October.

Campaigners gathered in the village on Sunday, many equipped with signs and placards opposing the plans.

Resident Amelia Garner said: "With the proximity to the school, that is not safe, you can't put those gases back into the chimney stack.

"Once those children are exposed, they are exposed. So we can't have any risk of exposure."

Dozens of residents stand in the rain at a protest. Some are holding placards and signs opposing the plans for the clinical waste incinerator. Other residents are holding umbrellas.
Campaigners gathered in the rain to oppose plans for the scheme

Sir Gavin Williamson, Conservative MP for Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge, had submitted a petition against the scheme, stating it was "not a suitable site for such a facility".

"What we are expecting is the council to stand by local residents," he said.

"And we've seen with Walleys Quarry, when a poor decision is made, how long it takes to correct it, and put it right. I don't want to have the same sort of problems in my constituency, impacting the people of Hixon."

A man wearing a coat stands outside speaking to the camera. People are stood behind him holding placards and signs.
Sir Gavin Williamson said he expected the county council to "stand with residents"

In Waste said the project had been "rigorously assessed and scrutinised at multiple stages" and had been subject to a "full suite of environmental assessments".

"[The assessments] have carefully modelled and evaluated emissions to nearby sensitive receptors, including residential properties and, importantly, the adjacent primary school," a spokesperson added.

"All assessments have demonstrated that emissions will remain within acceptable limits, as defined by relevant UK and international standards."

Staffordshire County Council confirmed the application would be discussed by its planning committee on 2 October.

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