VIEWS are now being sought over controversial plans for a multi-million-pound incinerator in Hampshire.

The Environment Agency is holding a public consultation on proposals for an energy recovery facility, otherwise known as a waste-to-energy plant, on land off the A31, near Holybourne, Alton.

The proposals were tabled by Veolia ES Hampshire Limited in June last year to make major changes to the Alton Materials Recovery Facility.

The site could see a 40 metre-high building with two 80 metre (260ft) chimneys. The proposed facility would be capable of treating around 330,000 tonnes of non-recyclable non-hazardous waste each year from homes and businesses across Hampshire and its neighbouring counties. The Environment Agency (EA) is now seeking comments on the company’s application from the local community and interested groups.

Information received about relevant environmental considerations during the consultation will be used to help determine the application as part of a detailed and rigorous assessment of the proposed operation.

The EA says that a permit variation will only be granted if the operator demonstrates that it meets all legal requirements of the Environment Permitting Regulations and that the facility will be operated in a way that provides a high level of protection of the environment and human health.

Colin Chiverton, area environment manager at the Environment Agency, said: “When we make a permit decision, we use information on the potential environmental and human health impacts of the activity.

“Public consultation lets people and organisations take part in our decision making. As this consultation is for an environmental permit we are looking specifically for environmental or health considerations. You can comment on issues that could affect you or where you have particular local knowledge. We take all relevant comments into account so we can make better decisions.”

The proposal has proved controversial and a community action group, No Wey Incinerator, has been formed to campaign against the plans.

The group has said: “This facility would burn industrial and commercial waste in the Hampshire countryside near Alton, on the borders of the South Downs National Park.

The waste will come mostly from outside the county, making Hampshire the incineration dustbin of the South of England.

The Hampshire Minerals and Waste Plan clearly shows that the county already has enough incineration capacity to meet its needs, but lacks recycling capacity.

If the planning application is approved, the recycling facility currently at the site will have to close. At present there is no plan for an alternative recycling site, so Hampshire’s problem will become even worse.”

Should the permit variation be granted, specialist Environment Agency officers will regularly audit the operation, including analysing monitoring data, and will also conduct unannounced inspections.

The consultation runs from until midnight on Thursday June 24. Application documents are available to view online at https://consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/psc/gu34-4jd-veolia-es-hampshire-ltd-epr-vp3290er-v004/

Comments can be made online or they can be emailed to us at pscpublicresponse@environment-agency.gov.uk,