CRITICS have blasted controversial incinerator plans at a crunch meeting - and urged politicians to throw them out.

A meeting to decide whether the New Barnfield facility gets the go-ahead is set to go on all day.

Questioning the need for an incinerator, Mick Bee, from Herts WithOut Waste, told members of Herts County Council’s development control committee: “If it was Tesco wishing to build a huge dome-like building over 40 metres high on a hill in the Green Belt visible from more than 10km away with a similar number of HGV movements, it wouldn’t progress very far.”

He said there was no demonstrated need for the plant, and told politicians: “You could be doing us all a favour if you refused the concept.”

Cathy Roe, from Hatfield Against Incineration, said demand is not high enough to sustain the plant.

She told the meeting: “The waste figures don’t justify this enormous site.”

And she said a study back in 2008 had rejected the New Barnfield site - before new consultants were appointed by Herts County Council.

The campaigner said: “New Barnfield was rejected by consultants WSP in May 2008.

“They said New Barnfield wasn’t shortlisted due to its proximity to adjacent properties.”

And she claimed a boss from Veolia - the company behind the controversial site - had said he would not want an incinerator close to his house.

Ms Roe said: “This morning I’ve heard that Mr Robert Hunt has said: ‘I don’t think I want a waste facility near my home’.

“The residents of Hatfield, Welham Green (and the surrounding area) don’t want it near their homes either.”

She continued: “This incinerator isn’t in accord with the law, it isn’t in accord with Herts County Council’s waste strategy, and it’s not in accord with what’s right.”