Alesha Dixon backs St Albans anti-incinerator campaign

Britain’s Got Talent judge wants green belt preserved

BRITAIN’S Got Talent judge Alesha Dixon is apparently “shocked” to hear of a proposal to build a massive incinerator near Colney Heath, and has voiced her support for villagers fighting the controversial complex.

Veolia Environmental Services has submitted its planning application to build an incinerator at New Barnfield, Hatfield. The facility will have the capacity to treat 380,000 tonnes of municipal, commercial and industrial waste a year.

Alesha has urged people to send in their objections to the scheme, which if approved could result in a 170m-long dome and 75m high emission flues, visible up to 15km away, being built.

The Welwyn Garden City born celebrity, who walks for miles through the Herts countryside with her little brother and family, said: “We need to preserve our green belt land. It’s important to preserve our scenery and our wildlife.”

She added: “There are only a few more days left for residents to write in with their objections.”

Villagers will be staging a protest against the incinerator tomorrow, Saturday January 21, at The Crooked Billet, 88 High Street, Colney Heath, from 2-3pm.

Colney Heath resident Susan Salter said villagers are “outraged” at the scheme.

Herts county council (HCC), which owns the New Barnfield site, has begun a consultation process with residents, interest groups and relevant parish, town, district and borough councils, including St Albans district and Colney Heath parish councils.

HCC is worried about the escalating costs of landfill. Its consultation ends on Tuesday January 31.