ONE last ditch attempt to prevent the construction of Europe’s largest waste incinerator in Belvedere has failed.

A two-day hearing where Bexley council and the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, argued the case for a judicial review of the Government’s decision to allow the burner to be built, ended in defeat on Friday.

Campaigners learned in January that the oral hearing had been granted and was to be heard in the High Court.

Leader of Bexley council, Cllr Ian Clement, expressed his bitter disappointment at the decision.

He said: "It was important and in the interests of the borough that we did all we could to try to stop this development, which I am still convinced will be bad for Bexley and for London.

"While our arguments received a proper airing, something which I felt they deserved at the very least, I am naturally extremely unhappy at the decision."

Ken Livingstone added: "These kinds of incinerators will release as much carbon per unit of energy as a coal fired power station. Given the scale of the challenge facing us on climate change, this incinerator is an obscenity."

Some 5,000 people signed a petition opposing the construction of the controversial £200million energy-to-waste power station. The decision to approve the incinerator was made by energy minister Malcolm Wicks in June 2006 following a public inquiry.

Belvedere ward councillor, Cllr David Leaf, who attended the hearing, said: "I’m bitterly disappointed with this news. The minister who made the decision is to blame for this."

* What’s your reaction to the High Court decision? Email bexleyextra@thekmgroup.co.uk.