THE proposal to build a waste to energy incinerator near Barton Stacey is “not right for our area” and will “blight our countryside for decades to come”, the MP for North West Hampshire says.

Kit Malthouse has taken to his Facebook page to share his views on the project, which is being developed by US company Wheelabrator.

Wheelabrator is hoping to construct a “waste to energy facility” on land just north of the A303, near Barton Stacey, which will convert residual household and business waste into renewable baseload energy.

The company will this week being a public consultation period, which runs from tomorrow (Friday) until Thursday, December 12, during which residents will be able to share their views on the plans.

Commenting on the project, he said: “Many of you have written to me with your concerns, which I fully agree with. This project is not right for our area and it will blight our countryside for decades to come.

“Once built, the incinerator will require 400 lorry movements per day and will belch plumes of smoke that may be visible, and breathable, for miles around.

“The Government has ordered Wheelabrator, the developer, to contact residents in a 15km radius of the site, yet many of my constituents in Andover, Overton, Laverstoke, Dummer, parts of Oakley, Hurstbourne Priors, St Mary Bourne and Hurstbourne Tarrant have not heard a thing.

“I strongly urge you to respond to the consultation.”

Mr Malthouse also advised residents of the consultation documents that Wheelabrator will be sharing. They will available from the Test Valley Borough Council and Hampshire County Council offices.

As part of its efforts to engage with the public Wheelabrator will also be staging a number of public consultation events during November.

The full list of events is as follows:

- Tuesday, November 12, 5pm-9pm: Whitchurch (Testbourne Community School, Micheldever Road, Whitchurch, RG28 7JF)

- Wednesday, November 13, 4pm-8pm: Andover (The Guildhall, High Street, Andover, SP10 1LP)

- Thursday, November 14, 4pm-8pm: Barton Stacey (Village Hall, Barton Stacey, SO21 3RW)

- Saturday, November 16, 9am-1pm: Longparish (Village Hall, Longparish, SP11 6PB)

- Wednesday, November 20, 2.30pm-6.30pm: Sutton Scotney (Victoria Hall, Sutton Scotney, SO21 3GX)

Addressing the consultation, a spokesperson for Wheelabrator said: “We welcome all comments as we carry out our statutory consultation on Wheelabrator Harewood.

"We believe we are undertaking a thorough and widespread consultation offering a variety of channels for people to find out more and make their views known.

"The consultation will be conducted in line with our Statement of Community Consultation, which has been developed following discussion and review with local authorities.”