Michael Ryan (61) studied health statistics in areas of England and Wales which had waste disposal incinerators similar to that proposed at Dovesdale Farm.

A retired Environmental Agency civil engineer, Michael said: "There is little doubt that the data points to massive health implications in those living near them.

"You cannot get away from those facts. You can't take a chance with people's health like this.

"I have looked at 28 different incinerators across England and the results are always the same."

However, Scotgen spokesman Lloyd Brotherton moved to calm any concerns by stating that Scotgen would be using a gasification NOT an incineration process.

He said: "Unlike incineration the solid waste is itself not the fuel. Instead the solid waste is heated in an atmosphere where there is insufficient air to promote combustion.

"By taking those energy rich gases away from the solid waste and combusting them in a separate chamber we are using a gas as a fuel.

"The combustion of a gaseous fuel is more efficient than the
combustion of a solid fuel.

"The time, temperature and turbulence are all carefully designed into the combustion chamber ensuring a cleaner and more thermally efficient process."

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