The NO WEY Incinerator action group reports that its campaign has so far resulted in a total of more than 5,000 objections to Veolia’s controversial planning application for a waste incinerator on the A31 near Alton.

A second public consultation on Veolia’s planned Advanced Energy Recovery Facility came to a close on February 15, again attracting strong objections from the likes of MPs Damian Hinds and Jeremy Hunt, local resident Alan Titchmarsh, CPRE Hampshire, South Downs National Park, and councils including East Hampshire, Waverley, Alton and Farnham.

Veolia says the new Alton plant would use the latest clean technology to incinerate 333,000 tonnes of residual waste per year, including plastic pots, tubs and trays that cannot currently be recycled, creating enough electricity to power 75,000 homes.

But objectors believe the Wey Valley is the wrong location for an incinerator, pointing to evidence the facility’s 80 metre chimneys would generate plumes of smoke visible 10km away.

Commenting on the 5,000-plus objections, No Wey spokesman Charles Zorab said: “This impressive figure represents the 3,277 submitted in the first round of public consultation, plus a further 1,866 from the second round to date.

“It is most encouraging to see the strength of opposition to this proposal, with further objections from the South Downs National Park, CPRE and many councillors and our local MPs.

“A date for the regulatory committee to consider this planning application is yet to be set. Meetings are suspended for the next two months pending local council elections so the committee will not reconvene, with a new structure, until mid-June at the earliest.

“We hope that members of the newly-established committee will give full consideration to the powerful arguments against the application presented by public and statutory objectors alike and come to the conclusion that Hampshire has no need for a fourth incinerator.”

Veolia’s proposal can be viewed under reference 33619/007 online at hants.gov.uk