Major waste plant sites revealed

Residents have been invited to have their say on five potential sites for new waste management plants in Suffolk.

Suffolk County Council is considering a range of options for major waste facilities, including an incinerator.

The sites include the former sugar beet factory at Sproughton, Shepherd's Grove Industrial Estate at Stanton and Hepworth and Eye Industrial Estate.

The former Masons cement works quarry and the council's highways depot, both at Great Blakenham, complete the list.

New waste management facilities need to be built to help the county cope with increases in household and industrial rubbish, the council said.

Final shortlist

Consultation on the proposals will begin on 8 December and run until 30 January.

A final shortlist should be released in mid 2009.

Sandy Martin, Labour spokesman on the environment, said the party opposed construction of an incinerator.

He said: "We don't believe Suffolk should be building an incinerator at all - but if they are determined to push this through, they shouldn't be foisting it on densely populated areas such as West Ipswich or Great Blakenham."

Liberal Democrat group leader Kathy Pollard said the party would be pressing for "mechanical biological treatment" of waste rather than incineration.

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