Plans for a hazardous waste incinerator at Tockwith are set to be defeated, after a huge campaign against the plans.

North Yorkshire County Council planning officers have recommended councillors turn down BCB Environmental Management Ltd’s planning application to build an incinerator at Marston Moor Business Park, Tockwith. In a report to the council, officers said it had not been adequately demonstrated whether or how the proposed development would be capable of connecting to the National Grid and supplying district heating.

A spokesman for BCB yesterday said: “It’s disappointing, but we won’t make any further comment until the full application has been heard on Tuesday.

“We will issue a statement at that particular time.” The plant, which would incorporate a 40-metre high chimney stack, would be able to handle up to 60,000 tonnes of waste each year and would, said BCB, produce enough energy to power up to 10,000 homes a year.

BCB said virtually all of this waste would otherwise be sent to landfill It stated in February it was confident it had the best possible waste management solution to help meet North Yorkshire County Council’s targets for diverting waste from landfill.

The facility would lead to the creation of about 20 jobs.

But the plans have proved hugely unpopular with local people.

Objectors, many of whom attended a demonstration at the site last week, claimed the emissions from the proposed development could have an adverse impact on people’s health, and that the proposed chimney would also be an eyesore.

BCB maintains the emissions from the facility would not breach any air quality standards and would not have a detrimental effect on human health.