ESSEX County Council is really on a hiding to nothing with its latest challenge to find suitable sites for a biological waste treatment plant.

The fact of the matter is, the council has to get rid of the county's waste somehow.

But it is highly unlikely to have villages queueing around the block wanting to become the next potential site.

As such, the council has to look around for possible locations – none of which will be popular with the people living there.

In north Essex, Ardleigh, Stanway, Tiptree and Wivenhoe are among the locations being looked at for a variety of plants.

Neighbours, it would be safe to assume, will not be keen.

But spare a thought for the residents of Wivenhoe.

Wivenhoe Quarry has been listed as a preferred site for a a 50,000 tonne-a-year biowaste facility by the council.

Planning permission was first given for the quarry in 1947.

That was due to run out by the end of last year with a restoration plan to return it to a greenfield site.

So just as the residents look forward to some reward for their tolerance, low and behold Essex County Council has other ideas.

It isn't a perfect world and there is no easy solution.

Residents in all the locations must stand up and make their views known, clearly and with evidence.

Complaining afterwards is a real waste.