A site closer to Southend should be considered for a waste site or incinerator, Rayleigh protesters told a public inquiry.

There are several alternative venues to the one proposed at Rayleigh sub-station, which are not in the green belt.

That was the message from Ian Edwards, representing the town and Rawreth authorities, who said areas in or nearer Southend borough - which produces a large volume of waste - should be considered.

These include former military land in Shoebury, Purdey's Industrial Estate, land near Tesco on the A127, and, primarily, Fossetts Farm.

But county bosses said the suggestions came too late.

Speaking at the inquiry into the Essex and Southend waste plan yesterday, Mr Edwards said: "Fossetts Farm is a 29-hectare site which is not green belt, which is to be used for industrial and employment purposes."

However, Geoffrey Gardner, strategic development manager for Essex County Council, said: "I have no intention of looking at these sites in detail and I do not think the inquiry can do so at this stage.

"The future of Fossetts Farm is already being looked at in a revision of the Local Plan taking place now.

"A preliminary approach was made by the Ministry of Defence concerning the Shoebury site but it went no further.

"Local authorities had the opportunity to suggest alternative sites months ago."

The Rayleigh sub station site is the only one of the eight proposed waste sites in the county in the green belt.

It is likely to serve the area with one of the county's densest populations, and more than 6,000 people have protested over the location, said Mr Edwards.

He said it is also close to residential localities and the construction of a tall chimney would not only cause a blight on the landscape but also cause pollution to be spread to nearby homes.

Mr Edwards added: "The local population feel the only way waste can be dealt with on this site is via a very intense process or incineration."

Mr Gardner did not dispute this. He said: "It is so far a non-descriptive plan. We do not rule things in, neither do we rule them out. The actual process to be used, and there are many, we cannot be sure of at this time."

He also conceded that issues such as the risk of the development to the public, the development's visual impact and traffic, cannot be addressed until a detailed planning application has been submitted.

The public inquiry was continuing today with submissions from Chelmsford Borough Council concerning the proposed site at Sandon.

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