Protesters against the controversial Essex Waste Plan have issued a defiant rallying cry - Essex is not for Burning.

Around 150 people attended a major rally outside County Hall, Chelmsford, against proposals to use incinerators for waste management.

Councillors representing the eight proposed major sites - which include Rayleigh, Basildon, Rivenhall, Stanway and Pitsea - spoke at the Friends of the Earth-organised event.

Chelmsford councillor Graham Pooley, who chaired the rally, said: "It is all cross-party. None of us believe the county council has got it right yet."

Colchester councillor Rod Green (Lab, Harbour) said: "We know officers like easy options and we know incineration is an easy option."

Representing the proposed Rayleigh site, Rochford councillor, Vic Leach (Lib Dem), said: "If we choose incinerators it is a commitment for 20 or 30 years without any options at all."

A 50-strong contingent turned out from Pitsea to show their anger as they already have a landfill site on their doorstep.

Pauline Cockran, from Pitsea Mount Community Association, said: "One of the biggest problems is access. Huge lorries thunder past our doors and it endangers lives daily.

"It is very difficult to get a line between not wanting to have incinerators in your back yard and not wanting them at all. We know about the dangers and we are supporting everybody in Essex."

More than one member pointed out the high cost of incinerators would mean generating more rubbish to make them economically viable to investors.

South Essex Labour MEP, Richard Howitt outlined how the Government's budget increase in Landfill tax and the European Landfill Directive are both designed to make recycling the cheaper and more attractive option.

Mike Childs, from Friends of the Earth, told the crowd how the increase in landfill tax also makes incineration more expensive because the by-product - ash - has to be buried in landfill sites.

Residents near landfill sites, such as those in Pitsea, have most to fear as this is where the ash will go. Mike Childs said: "Incineration isn't safe. If it was the EU wouldn't be bringing in regulations to clean up the emissions."

Petitions and statements from angry residents were handed to councillor Kay Twitchen, chairman of Essex County Council's Waste Management Committee.

She said: "I want to listen to what they have to say because if we aren't going to have incineration we have to decide what we are going to have."

Eleven out of twelve Essex councils have objected to the Essex Waste Plan.

Essex County Council stated that no decision has been reached to dispose of waste by incineration at any of the eight proposed sites in the county but they have refused to rule out the option.

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