Campaigners battling against the Essex waste plan have hit back at accusations that they are simply scaremongering.

The charges follow a rally at County Hall in Chelmsford on Saturday when protestors from Ongar and North Weald joined hundreds demonstrating against the proposal.

The backlash escalates the split over the future of waste in Essex which is due finally to be thrashed out at a public inquiry in November.

Activists, including the newly-formed Weald Against Refuse, fear incinerators will be put on at least some of the eight sites, including North Weald Airfield, which have been earmarked for waste disposal.

The attack on the campaigners was led by county planning committee chairman Gerard McEwen, of Norton Heath, who represents wards which include Ongar, Shelley, Moreton and Matching.

He accused them of "spreading a smokescreen of misinformation" about incinerators and of frightening people.

Cllr McEwen added: "There have been no proposals submitted for incinerators anywhere and the public can be assured that no decisions would be made without environmental approval including assessment by the Environment Agency plus public consultation."

County planners stress that incinerators are just one of a number of options under discussion.

They deny the waste plan is in favour of incineration for disposing of waste.

Epping Forest district councillor Doug Kelly, of Fyfield, who spoke at Saturday's rally, denied campaigners were initiating scare stories.

He said: "I'm saddened that this has been said. We're doing nothing that is divisive or alarmist. We're merely presenting the facts about incineration to people who may not have heard them before.

"I think we should be concentrating on discussion not confrontation. This is an important decision. After all, if they go for incineration they are locking us in for 25 or 30 years."

Paula Whitney, of Friends of the Earth, said: "It's outrageous. They're the ones putting up a smokscreen. In the plan they specify that incineration will be part of the process."

Stark message: A placard-carrying protestor spells out his viewpoint at Saturday's rally.

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