THE No Wey Incinerator action group wants the government to decide if a controversial burner can be built in the rural Wey Valley near Alton.

It has asked Robert Jenrick, the secretary of state for housing, communities and local government, to take over the determination of Veolia’s planning application.

No Wey believes approving the commercial waste incinerator would have a serious long-term impact on nationally important issues including climate change.

The campaign group has led opposition to waste management company Veolia’s proposed Energy Recovery Facility since March last year. During that time more than 5,000 objections have been submitted to Hampshire County Council by residents and businesses.

There have also been objections from three district and borough councils, Alton and Farnham town councils, 19 parish councils, two MPs, the South Downs National Park Authority, the Campaign to Protect Rural England (Hampshire) and Historic England.

Acting on the advice of its consultants and lawyers – and supported by East Hampshire MP Damian Hinds and county councillors Mark Kemp-Gee and Andrew Joy – the campaign group has asked the secretary of state to use his powers to ‘call in’ the planning application because it involves issues of more than local importance.

No Wey Incinerator spokesman Benedict Stanberry said: “We have been told Hampshire County Council will make a decision in the autumn. However, there are many serious issues at stake in this planning application that the council’s regulatory committee does not have the power to consider when deciding it.

“The application conflicts with a very large number of national policies, including those on the waste hierarchy, climate change, air quality, ecology and nature conservation. We believe it is the secretary of state who is best placed to consider the application.

“This application should not be rushed through simply to appease a multi-national company that stands to make millions of pounds in profits from an enormous incinerator which is not needed.”

East Hampshire MP Damian Hinds said: “I continue to oppose the proposal for a large incinerator just outside Alton. Even if such a facility is necessary – and that itself is a big if – there must be a more appropriate location for it.”