Ford airfield, Lec site on shortlistfor incinerator

The possibility of the giant industrial plant being sited either at the former Lec factory or on Ford Airfield was publicised this week.

The locations are on a shortlist released on Monday by West Sussex County Council for a facility which could turn millions of tonnes of rubbish into energy. Two companies '“ Viridor and Biffa '“ are competing for the right to run the plant.

But they will face opposition if they attempt to use either of the sites around Bognor.

Bersted Parish Council chairman Cllr Brian Knight said no one wanted an incinerator or similar building replacing Lec along Shripney Road.

"We feel as a council that whatever goes on the Lec site should enhance what is an important entrance to the town.

"No matter how much you disguise an incinerator it's always going to be just that.

"The new use should also provide employment for all those people who are going to be living in the 1,350 homes on site six in North Bersted and Felpham," he stated.

The chairman of Ford Parish Council, Cllr Ron Field, said: "I'm not at all surprised Ford has been put forward as a potential location.

"It seems that, whenever anyone mentions a scheme to do with rubbish, they always think of Ford. The residents around here are getting fed up with it.

"I am absolutely certain that the parish council and the residents would be dead against this scheme."

A total of 16 potential locations have been identified by the council as suitable for the sorting, transfer, recycling and treatment of waste.

This includes incineration and other waste-to-energy options.

The details are contained within the council's waste and minerals strategy. This still requires government approval.

The list acts as guidance to the chosen contractor but the company can submit a planning application for another location if it wants.

County council head of waste management Phil Russell said: "The county council has a preference for non-incineration.

"We want to reduce landfill and we aim to try to recover as many resources as possible from waste."

He said sites other than the shortlist could come forward from the selected contractor.

Talks about the potential location for the plant were confidential and the council was awaiting final bids, he stated.

Ten initial bids, which focus on alternatives to incineration, have been put forward by Biffa and Viridor.