Residents are "sick and tired" of Basildon being a dumping ground for other people's rubbish, a protester told a public inquiry.

Jean Smith was speaking at a public inquiry to consider Essex and Southend council's proposals for eight strategic waste management sites in the county.

Pitsea landfill site and an area of land off Courtauld Road in Basildon are both earmarked for development.

Mrs Smith, from Church Lane, Basildon, lives directly opposite the Courtauld Road site. She fears incinerators would be built - despite county council assurances that other options are being considered.

Mrs Smith said: "It is a disgrace the county council is even contemplating this. It is a cheek. Basildon people are sick and tired of being the dumping ground of other people's mess and we want it to stop.

"No-one has said anything about the residents of Basildon being contaminated. I will apply for blight on my property if anything happens - Essex County Council is going against the wishes of the people."

More than 9,000 people objected to the waste plan when it was published last year. Other sites affected include Rayleigh, Stanway and Rivenhall.

John Howell QC, representing Basildon Council at the inquiry, said plans to name the two sites in Basildon, without saying how they would be used, were unjustified and incoherent.

He added the Pitsea site was on green belt land and featured stretches of protected marsh land.

Geoff Gardner, Essex County Council's strategic development officer, said the impact of the sites had been considered but the demand for waste management had to be weighed against this.

He added: "The waste plan is the beginning of this process, not the end, and contentions that strategic waste management sites will be automatically developed for incineration are unfounded."

The inquiry's findings are expected to be announced next summer.

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