A WASTE recycling plant has been shut down because of serious design flaws.

Allington Incinerator could be closed indefinitely after it was discovered an insulating lining in its furnaces is not able to cope with the heat of the fires.

It means that 5,000 tonnes of rotting rubbish will now have to be moved to a landfill site.

Kent Enviropower, which runs the recycling plant in Laverstock Road, admitted there is an issue with the insulating lining in the furnaces, which will have to be replaced.

Cllr Tony Harwood (Lib Dem), cabinet member for the environment, said: "Obviously, the furnaces get very, very hot and it has done damage to the linings.

"I expect the heat has caused the tiles to expand and that has loosened them."

Almost 5,000 tonnes of rubbish in bunkers at the site will now be sent to a landfill site near Canterbury because it will be unsuitable for burning by the time the plant reopens.

Paul Andrews, managing director of Kent Enviropower, said the company was going through a process of "testing and improving the facility".

He believes the furnaces will be able to burn rubbish again when the plant eventually reopens, but it may not be able to generate electricity for a "considerable period".

Kent Enviropower has been unable to confirm when the plant will be fully operational again.

* For full story see the Kent Messenger.