A GREEN campaigner has blasted proposals to build two waste management and recycling units in Ellesmere Port.

Ralph Ryder, co-ordinator of Communities Against Toxics, fears both developments could be bad for the town's health.

And he called it 'ludicrous' that Cheshire County Council, which is submitting the proposals, has given residents just six weeks to object.

The county is looking at 23 potential sites around Cheshire on which to build waste management facilities, including one close to Associated Octel and another in Bridges Road.

They form part of the Replacement Waste Local Plan, which will be decided on at the full council meeting in County Hall tomorrow.

Mr Ryder said: 'This is not the best environmental option. While I fully support recycling, we need to be encouraging everybody, and industry in particular, to be reducing their waste in the first place.

'Residents in Lostock Gralam, near North-wich, called me 12 months ago when they heard about these plans, which could lead to an incinerator being built there.

'I knew Ellesmere Port would be next - it always is when it comes to plans like this. We are a prime spot, next to the motorways.'

The Waste Plan suggests the Port sites could be used for household waste and recycling, thermal treatment, composting, biological treatment, material recycling, anaerobic digestion, bulking, and waste transfer.

Mr Ryder added: 'The one thing not mentioned in the plan is an incinerator. Will we get one here?

'There have been studies about the potential health implications of incinerators. I worry whether people are taking these into consideration.'

Alan Thornley, county planning officer, said that if these proposals are agreed tomorrow they will go out to public consultation for six weeks.

During that time public meetings will be held countywide, including one in the Civic Hall in early June.

He said: 'We have to have a starting point. But some of the sites will be non-starters, while people might suggest others we hadn't thought of.

'At some point, Cheshire will need some facilities to manage our waste. We met every borough council before coming up with these proposals.'

Other suggested sites nearby include Sutton in Frodsham, Wimbolds Trafford, Oakmere, Tattenhall, and Bumpers Lane in Chester.

Mr Ryder said: 'Six weeks is not long enough for the public to decide on facilities which could last 25 years or so.

'It's never too late for people to campaign against this, but they shouldn't just rely on me and a few others. Everyone must make their voices heard.'

What do you think? Write to: Waste Plan, The Pioneer, 66 Whitby Road, Ellesmere Port CH65 0AA or e-mail pioneer@cheshirenews.co.uk