A CONTROVERSIAL waste incinerator that will process waste from across London is to be built in Belvedere, the Government has announced.

Campaigners’ worst fears were realised on Thursday morning when Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks confirmed Riverside Resource Recovery Ltd had been granted permission to go ahead with London's first river-served energy-from-waste plant.

It marks the end of a campaign dating back to 1999 when the application was first made. There have since been two public inquiries into the contentious proposal.

Work is now expected to begin on the power station in Norman Road in six months.

Mr Wicks said: "Today’s approval takes into account the concerns raised, and includes a number of conditions recommended by the inquiry inspector to mitigate any impacts.

"This energy from waste station will be fuelled by waste which would otherwise have to go to landfill. London has a serious waste problem much of which it currently exports to landfill in the Home Counties."

The announcement has sparked an angry response locally. Bexleyheath and Crayford MP David Evennett MP (Con) said: "This decision is a complete and utter disgrace. The Labour Government has ignored the overwhelming wishes of the local community.

"I have been a resident in Belvedere for over 20 years and for as long as I can remember we have been fighting various incinerator plans. We cannot give up now."

Belvedere ward councillor David Leaf (Con) has also slammed the decision by the Department for Trade and Industry and called on residents to attend an urgently-arranged public meeting on July 4.

He said: "I am bitterly disappointed, cross and concerned at the decision. This will undoubtedly have adverse effects on the quality of life for the whole of Bexley Borough and its residents.

"When the Minister spoke to me this morning I reiterated my concerns about the increased traffic and environmental consequences of the Burner in Belvedere. I think the Government has once again made the wrong decision. It has ignored the interests and views of local people, and also their quality of life."

The public meeting will coincide with the Belvedere Community Forum meeting at St Augustine’s Church Hall, Belvedere, on Tuesday, July 4 at 7.30pm.

The majority of the household waste will come from the London boroughs of Lambeth, Wandsworth, the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea and Hammersmith & Fulham. The riverside plant will depend heavily on tugs and barges using the Thames to transport waste.

Riverside Resource Recovery, which won the 30-year contract worth £700 million is a subsidiary of Cory Environmental.

Chief executive Malcolm Ward said: "We are delighted to have been given the green light. The decision is a clear endorsement that strictly controlled incineration with energy recovery has a major role to play in waste management.

"This will make a major contribution to helping London meet the European landfill diversion targets. This will save millions of pounds in fines which would then have been levied on London Council taxpayers."

* Full story and reaction in next week's Bexley Extra.