CAMPAIGNERS who helped halt plans to build a massive incinerator just outside Andover have donated thousands of pounds in leftover funds to charity.

Keep Test Valley Beautiful (KTVB) raised £100,000 thanks to donors large and small in its bid to prevent the American company Wheelabrator from building their waste incinerator near the town.

In February, and earlier than anyone could ever have anticipated, their campaign proved to be a success. Wheelabrator announced it was pulling the project and would not be proceeding with its plans.

Now the campaign group is using the thousands of pounds still left in its Kitty to donate to a range of worthy causes.

Following discussions with major donors, the KTVB committee decided to distribute the surplus to charities and public bodies to be used for the benefit of local people, and also to national anti-incineration groups.

Organisers have given £4,800 to the Andover Food Bank and £1,800 to the Countess of Brecknock Hospice.

Other beneficiaries include Longparish Community Association (which will receive £3,000), Barton Stacey parish council (£1,200), the United Kingdom Without Incineration Network (£1,200) and the Laverstoke, Hurstbourne Priors and Overton parish councils (£500 each).

KTVB Chair David Wright said: “It’s been a hectic and sometimes stressful 12 months. The anxiety of what this project would have meant for all our communities has been a constant worry.”

He added: “Thank you for your support – particularly those who sent the 5,463 letters and e-mails of objection to Wheelabrator, as well as our local MPs, especially Caroline Nokes, and councillors.

“If further attempts are made to develop the site in an inappropriate fashion, we will be ready for it. We have learnt how to fight. We have built a fantastic team and have developed systems and strategies that have proved successful.

“If the worst should happen, we will have them ready to fight again.”

The full list of donations is as follows: Andover Food Bank (£4,800); Countess of Brecknock Hospice (£1,800); Longparish Community Association (£3,000); Barton Stacey Parish Council (£1,200); Whitchurch Community Support Group (£500); Laverstoke Parish Council (£500); Hurstbourne Priors Parish Council (£500); Overton Parish Council (£500); UK Without Incineration Network (£1,250); and the Plume Plotter (£150).