Waste incinerator plan approved

Campaigners opposing the incinerator plan took to the streets

Plans for an incinerator in a market town that will process 210,000 tonnes of waste a year have been approved.

East Sussex County Council's planning committee agreed the Newhaven proposals along with 44 conditions to tackle issues of construction, dust and noise.

Protesters against the incinerator fought a long-running campaign that led to nearly 15,000 written objections.

Last year, hundreds of people took to the streets warning the Energy Recovery Facility could "kill our children".

The county council said the plant at North Quay would generate electricity from rubbish collected across East Sussex and Brighton, and divert waste from landfill.

In the end the committee was satisfied Councillor Michael Tunwell

It said a legal agreement with the applicant, Veolia, would be required, and there were conditions relating to lorry routes, planting, landscaping and finances.

The application could still be called in by Local Government Secretary Ruth Kelly, a move that would lead to a public inquiry, it added.

Councillor Michael Tunwell, planning committee chairman, said "great care" was taken to consider comments made during consultation.

"In the end the committee was satisfied that the proposal was acceptable," he said.

Campaign group Dove opposed the plans saying incineration did not solve waste problems, or make waste disappear.

It claimed incinerators released dangerous toxins into the atmosphere and concentrated all the remaining hazardous materials into toxic ash which had to be disposed of.

It said there were safer and cheaper alternatives.

The Environment Agency granted a permit for the facility in November.