BRAINTREE Council’s leader is urging the Government to call in plans for a massive waste facility at Rivenhall and hold a public inquiry.

Graham Butland has written to Hazel Blears, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, urging her not to allow Essex County Council to go ahead with its waste plans without an inquiry.

Proposals for an integrated waste management facility on Rivenhall Airfield were approved on April 24 by county councillors in the face of opposition from residents, the district council, parish councils and many other groups. The county council wants to build the facility, along with a combined heat and power plant, on a 62.5-acre site in Sheepcotes Lane.

In his letter, Mr Butland says the need for a 360,000-tonne paper pulping facility has not been demonstrated by County Hall. He also argues the waste site would be detrimental to the countryside and would lead to more traffic using the A120.

At a recent Braintree Councilmeeting, Nigel Harley, councillor responsible for enterprise and culture, said: “While this council supports the county council’s waste strategy the council remains opposed to the modified application submitted by Gent Fairhead for Rivenhall Airfield.”