THE director of an incinerator firm has hit out at Test Valley Borough Council and local campaigners after the authority rejected their plans for an energy recovery centre in Andover.

Rob Mockridge, managing director of Sibor Ltd, claims the company were “ignored” by councillors and residents during their bid to convert a 50,000sqft warehouse on Walworth Business Park into a wood burning incinerator.

The Advertiser reported last week that TVBC had rejected an offer from Sibor for the warehouse, which is being co-developed by Kier Property, after the energy company were granted permission to convert the building into an incinerator by Hampshire County Council.

In a statement, Mr Mockridge described TVBC’s decision as a “grey day for the UK”.

However the energy boss was also highly critical of the authority, who he claims ignored a number of requests for meetings.

He said: “Firstly we were unaware of the Test Valley Borough Council’s decision and have not been consulted on any issue at any time, even after several requests for meetings to put across the facts.

“We explained the facts of the project at two planning meetings, both fully supported by the county council and scrutinised by the environmental health officer, ecology scientists, environmental agency and environmental consultants.

“The community and council have been lobbied constantly by a handful of locals who have caused fear and uncertainly within the community via social media, with sensationalised untruths found on negative propaganda websites published by anti-incineration groups.

“It saddens us that commerce within the Test Valley borough can be conducted in such a way.”

Test Valley Borough Council leader Ian Carr explained to the Advertiser last week that the company would not have communicated with the authority as co-partners Kier Property were managing the sale of the building.