A WASTE incinerator plan which drew hundreds of objections from residents has been rejected by councillors.

The scheme sparked concerns that it would blight the area with “plumes of pollutants” from a 30m stack, harming health and the environment.

Read more: Finding a way forward after principal's bizarre decision to invite Liddle

It attracted 290 objections from residents, groups, businesses and councillors, and a petition with 497 signatures, expressing concerns including air quality, emissions, health and noise.

Fornax Environmental Solutions applied for permission to build a “high temperature thermal treatment facility” at the Merchant Park estate.

It would incinerate up to 10,500 tonnes of clinical and hazardous waste per year, running 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Christine Walton, representing Great Aycliffe Town Council, told councillors: “The local community is overwhelmingly against the proposal.”

She said it would do long-term harm and no real benefit to the community, posing “a very real risk and health concerns for a large number of people”.

Cllr Neville Jones said it would undermine waste reduction and recycling goals and increase carbon emissions with possible health risks and wildlife harm.

At Durham County Council’s planning committee meeting, Cllr Jim Atkinson said residents made a “clear statement of discontent”.

He said the plant would produce 2,000 tonnes of ash and “pepper-spray thousands of residents with whatever cocktail remains”.

He added: “Pouring hazardous waste emissions into the air we breathe can only compound the threat we face from climate change.”

Cllr Ken Robson said: “I’m a NIMBY. I don’t want this thing in my back yard. Everybody doesn’t want it.”

Cllr Eddy Adam said there had not been enough consultation and the plan could increase toxins, poisons and CO2 in the air.

Cllr Michael Stead said just 27 promised jobs was a “pathetic misuse of two hectares of prime employment land”, risking the park and people’s health.

Cllr Carl Robinson from Great Aycliffe Town Council said: “I’m sure you do not want to be the authority that authorises a facility to be built and operated that has the possibility to cause catastrophic harm to local residents - the people that elected you.”

Newton Aycliffe resident Penny Jackson said the area was starting to improve but health concerns meant “businesses have stated they will relocate if the incinerator is approved”.

Resident Hilda Longley said: “If the incinerator is built, the air will not be fresh. The right to breathe clean air will be gone.”

The applicant said it would be a “showpiece in a network of facilities across the UK”.

They argued the facility would cut the carbon footprint of the county’s waste, destroying materials safely with constant monitoring and no offensive noise or smells, with no objection from the Environment Agency or public health officers.

Council officers recommended approval of the plan, saying the environmental impacts were “not unacceptable” and the plant could operate safely.

Principal planning officer Claire Teasdale said specialist technical experts raised no objections, and the public concerns had been considered but were “not sufficient to outweigh the planning judgment”.

Cllr Craig Martin recommended refusal of the plan, not on environmental grounds but because it was not suitable for this particular industrial estate and could negatively affect business.

He pointed to objection from Hitachi, “one of the jewels in the crown of employment that we’ve had in the last 10 years” that it could harm their work.

Cllr Patricia Jopling said: “I don’t think that it’s our job to agree always with the officers.

“We have to take into account what residents think. They’ve got to live with this. We haven’t. To me this is not the right place.”

The planning committee voted overwhelmingly to refuse the application, prompting clapping and thanks.

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow our dedicated County Durham Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054