PLANS for an industrial incinerator at Seal Sands is top of the list of concerns for a new residents' group.

Impact, an independent organisation for Teessiders which wants to do more about the problems of living beside industry, was formed at a meeting in Eston last week.

One of its first moves will be to ask Stockton Borough Council to block a request from Cory Environmental Limited to renew permission for a toxic waste incinerator at Seal Sands.

The company wants to build a £35m incinerator designed to handle hazardous and conventional waste.

The incinerator would be one of only four in the UK able to deal with toxic waste.

John Brunton, chairman of the group, said: "Impact has been formed to provide help for local people who fear that their health or environment is being damaged by industrial processes.

"The most pressing concern is the threat to the whole of Teesside from Cory's plans to burn 30,000 tonnes of hazardous waste each year for the next 25 years.

"That can only add to health risks and the bad image that we already suffer. No council should sanction that.

"In the long run, Impact wants to build up skills and resources that local communities can use to challenge big industrial companies. We'll welcome new members who share those aims.

"We've had a lot of help from Friends of the Earth to get this going, but Impact will be independent and we have no hidden agendas.

"We're just a group of people who want to do more to make the Teesside towns a better, safer place to live."