Street protest against Plymouth incinerator plans

Protesters said the plant was "not a done deal"

Protesters against a new incinerator in Plymouth have taken part in a street rally to campaign for a public inquiry.

About 30 people, including some with face masks and placards, protested against the proposed Energy from Waste plant on Friday.

The £140m incinerator, backed by three Devon councils, is to provide steam and energy for the Devonport navy base.

Incinerator contractor MVV Environment said the plant would use "proven and reliable technology".

Plymouth City, Devon County and Torbay councils have granted the German-owned company preferred bidder status to build the plant in Devonport's North Yard to handle waste from all three areas.

It would deal with 245,000 tonnes of waste a year and produce 22.5MW of energy - enough to power 37,000 homes, MVV said.

Helen Keats, of the Incineration Is Wrong protest group, said that, despite the councils' backing, the plant was "not a done deal".

She said: "They haven't got planning permission and they haven't got a permit to operate.

"Those are the two things we can fight."

MVV said the plant would help save valuable fossil resources and reducing carbon dioxide output and would also result in people paying less for waste disposal.