A DECISION on highly controversial plans for a huge energy recovery centre in Andover has been deferred after councillors requested that the applicant provide more information.

The decision on the application, to convert a 50,000sqft distribution warehouse on the Walworth Industrial Estate into a wood-to-energy incinerator, was due to be made by Hampshire County Council’s regulatory committee on Wednesday, March 18.

The authority’s planning chiefs recommended the plans be approved in their report to the committee, despite receiving more than 170 letters of objections from residents in the town.

But during the debate, which contained representation from the applicant, Sibor Ltd, as well as residents who lives near the proposed site, the committee decided that they needed more information from Sibor before making a final decision.

Sue Rackham has been leading the fight against the incinerator and attended the meeting, held at the county council offices in Winchester.

She said: “At the end of the day I’m pleased it has been deferred.

“The only shame is it wasn’t rejected.”

“We won’t stop here. We are already planning our next steps to oppose the plans.”

Charlie Waters is the owner of children’s attraction Finkley Down Farm, which is located about 500 metres from the site.

He said: “I’m pretty pleased by the outcome but there is still work to do.”

The ERC is expected to use around 84,000 tons of nonhazardous waste wood per year and will produce 10 MWhr (Mega Watt hours) of electrical power when at full capacity.

The site will operate 24 hours a day, all year round, and is expected to bring between 16 to 18 jobs to the town.

However the plans have proved unpopular amongst residents in Andover, with concerns raised about the impact the ERC may have on the air quality in the area.

Sibor says it has carried out an air quality assessment and equipment design checks to ensure that emissions from the facility fall inside set criteria.