CONTROVERSIAL plans to build a waste disposal plant capable of burning 90 tonnes of rubbish a year have been kicked out by councillors.

Members of St Helens Council’s planning committee unanimously rejected the plans which would have seen a warehouse on Lock Street in Merton Bank converted to an “energy from waste” plant.

The factory would have been capable of burning 90,000 tonnes of rubbish a year with a further 60,000 tonnes which would have been sent for recycling or landfill. The purpose of the plant is to transform waste into energy for the National Grid but it has been met with consistent opposition from neighbours.

The council received more than 100 letters of complaint ranging from those who said they would be “plagued with swarms of flies” to one who insisted that it will adversely affect property prices. It was eventually turned down as councillors felt that it wasn’t satisfactorily shown that energy from the development would be low carbon.

They also said that there was already enough capacity for energy from waste in Merseyside and Halton and claimed any development would have a detrimental impact on those who lived close by.

Planning committee chairman Stephen Glover said: “I’m worried about this being proposed next to housing.

“I want to be sure that it’s going to be low-carbon, not simply be told it’s more likely than not.”

Applicant Oaktree Environmental had not commented at the time of going to press.