CONTROVERSIAL plans which could see an incinerator built on the doorstep of the world-renowned Bentley car factory in Crewe have moved a step closer.

Community leaders and residents are up in arms about the proposal for a waste treatment plant at the Pyms Lane council depot, opposite the luxury car factory.

They fear it could give out harmful chemicals as the rubbish is treated.

Cheshire County Council is also considering a second site in Pyms Lane, at its junction with Middlewich Road, one at Clay-hanger Hall Farm, next to the Haslington Bypass, and an area at Moss Lane, Elworth, Sand-bach.

The council's executive committee gave the go-ahead for the initial draft of the county's Replacement Waste Local Plan at a meeting on Thursday.

Now the scheme will go before full council for a decision on April 22.

Principal planning officer Adrian Lea said: 'I expect it to be approved at that meeting and then go out to public consultation for a six week period. This will involve every parish, town and district council being contacted, as well as a host of statutory consultation bosses.

'We will consult with the industry, and copies of the plan will be available in every public library, including mobile libraries. Basically we will go far and wide to make sure everybody has a chance to voice their opinion.'

Mr Lea said health risks had been massively exaggerated.

He added: 'Studies show that dioxins released by these plants have plummeted by about 97% over the years and garden bonfires and fireworks are far more harmful.'

The council claims that a number of new waste treatment plants are needed to tackle the enormous amount of waste created by Cheshire residents. It has earmarked a total of 23 sites across the county.

Each has suggested options for a differing range of waste management facilities ranging from household waste and recycling centres, to in-vessel composting, thermal and mechanical biological treatment, aggregate recycling and anaerobic digestion.

The authority already pays out nearly £6m a year in landfill tax and that bill is set to rise by almost £1.2m a year if strict targets to reduce rubbish are not met.