'Relief' at rejection of incinerator plan

Protesters had gathered in the rain ahead of the council planning committee meeting

Campaigners have said they are "relieved" a proposal to build an incinerator that would have burned up to 260,000 tonnes of waste a year has been rejected by councillors.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council's planning committee voted to turn down the application from MVV Environmental Ltd to construct the energy-from-waste facility at Canford Resource Park near Bournemouth.

It would have burned non-recyclable and non-hazardous domestic, commercial and industrial waste to generate electricity.

Opponents had raised concerns about levels of air pollution and a "six-mile toxic plume" from the plant.

The incinerator would have been built at the waste management site on Canford Resource Park

MVV Environmental's proposals said the plant would have provided 28.5MW of electricity to businesses at Churchill Magna Business Park as well as to Arena Way and Magna Road.

The council said 469 objections had been received during the planning process.

They included objections to building on green belt land, issues over transporting waste into the site and removing residue, as well as air pollution and its impact on nearby Canford Heath.

Council planners had recommended the scheme be approved but it was rejected by the committee by six votes to three.

Joanna Bury said the local community would be relieved at the decision

Following the meeting, Frank Ahern from local campaign group MagWatch said he was "cock-a-hoop" at the decision.

"People will be absolutely thrilled and relieved. A lot of young mothers were distraught at the thought of this going through and the effect it would have on their children.

"The answer is not incinerating - it's recycling more effectively," he added.

Joanna Bury of Wimborne Extinction Rebellion said: "I am so relieved. The community was so frightened of this happening.

"We are so grateful to all the councillors who stood up for the people of Dorset, for all the worried families and for nature."

Natalie Clarke lives close to the site of the proposed energy-from-waste plant

Resident Natalie Clarke who lives less than a mile from the proposed plant had earlier said the issue was "emotional"

"My concern is what affect will this have on my family, especially our young children, breathing in these toxic fumes 24-7. The long-term effects could be devastating".

Speaking during the meeting, Paul Carey of MVV Environmental insisted the company would be a "good neighbour".

"Please be assured of our intentions to work responsibly in our community and environment," he told councillors.

In a statement following the decision, the company said: ""We will need to wait for the publication of the official reasons for refusal, and to see if the Secretary of State intends to intervene, before deciding whether to appeal."