A MASSIVE waste incinerator looks set to be built in Hatfield rather than a site close to Radlett.

Hertfordshire County Council will officially vote on the location of the controversial plant at a cabinet meeting today (Thursday) and it is understood that their officers are recommending that it should be sited in New Barnfield, Hatfield rather than on the Lafarge Aggregates site at Harper Lane, Frogmore.

The council is pressing ahead with the new incinerator despite months of staunch opposition from residents close both to Harper Lane and the New Barnfield site, which were the two shortlisted contenders.

E.ON is proposing to build at Harper Lane and Veolia is vying for the Hatfield site.

But the Welwyn Hatfield Times has learned that county officers are recommending Hatfield, with the panel likely to choose Veolia, a subsidiary of a French corporation, ahead of German company E.ON as its preferred bidder.

Environmentalists had written to councillors asking them to delay today’s decision until the government releases its waste strategy review in May.

In the letter they said: “The review may well have changes and recommendations which the people of Hertfordshire would expect you to take into account before committing to a 25-year contract at significant expense to council taxpayers at a time of economic cuts.”

But a council spokeswoman confirmed that the decision would be made today as planned.

The Cabinet’s announcement on its preferred bidder will be publicised on the Welwyn Hatfield Times’ website www.whtimes24.co.uk