CAMPAIGNERS against an incinerator at Hatfield’s New Barnfield site besieged the county council offices on Friday.

More than 30 ‘Save New Barnfield’ protesters handed over a petition, organised by Welwyn Hatfield MP Grant Shapps, signed by 2,500 people.

Their message echoed the Welwyn Hatfield Times’ own InferNO! campaign.

Alan Franey, deputy leader of Welwyn Hatfield Council, presented the petition and spoke out against the potential traffic impact on residents, on children at Southfield School, and on the recreation areas.

The petition will now be referred to the county council’s waste management panel.

Residents’ group Hatfield Against Incineration is campaigning against the building of an incinerator anywhere in the county and is against foisting a private finance initiative (PFI) on Hertfordshire.

A spokesman said: “The �2bn cost over the length of the PFI contract is just one major reason why incineration is not the right way to deal with the county’s waste.”