King's Lynn incinerator plan given go ahead

Councillors have voted for a £500m waste incinerator to be built in West Norfolk, despite a protest outside County Hall.

Residents in the borough of King's Lynn and West Norfolk voted overwhelmingly to reject the plan for the Willows Business Park, Saddlebow.

Norfolk County Council said the plant was needed to stop waste going to landfill and to generate energy.

Councillors voted for the plans at a meeting in Norwich earlier.

Opponents to the proposals are concerned about pollution and in a recent poll, 92% of those taking part voted against the proposal with a turnout of more than 61%.

Total votes cast were 70,763 out of 115,382 eligible voters and 65,516 said "No" to the scheme.

Some 5,173 people supported the incinerator (7.32% of the valid vote) and there were 74 spoilt papers.