TV GARDENING guru Alan Titchmarsh has reiterated his protest against Veolia’s proposed commercial incinerator in Alton’s rural Wey valley.

Speaking in a BBC South Today interview broadcast last week, Holybourne local Mr Titchmarsh spoke passionately about his opposition to incineration.

“We’re talking about 56,000 lorries coming down the A31 during the course of the year, 24/7, bringing waste that is being burned,” he said.

“We don’t even do that in garden bonfires any more!

“We should be encouraging more people to recycle and to think more carefully about what they are doing to the environment, which can’t be got back once it’s been trashed.”

East Hampshire MP Damian Hinds also submitted his formal objection to the second consultation on Veolia’s plans before Monday’s deadline.

In his letter of objection, Mr Hinds said: “It is hard to avoid the conclusion that, had this site not already been owned by the applicant, it would not have been proposed for an energy-from-waste facility.

“The proposed facility is wholly inappropriate, both in scale and in character, in relation to the Wey Valley location and its surrounding area.”

The MP added: “Given the recent growth in incineration capacity in the UK, I do hope to see very challenging analysis by the council of whether there is a need anywhere in Hampshire for the kind of facility proposed by Veolia.

“I reiterate my strong objections to this planning application and I urge Hampshire County Council to refuse it.”

The Herald has asked Hampshire County Council when the application is likely to be determined, but has not had a reply.