THE fight against a controversial county incinerator proposed to be built on the Green Belt near St Albans has been bolstered with district council funding.

Herts county council last year approved Veolia’s scheme to construct a massive waste burner a mile from Colney Heath despite objections from more than 6,300 residents.

But Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Eric Pickles called-in the scheme, with a public hearing into the application beginning on Tuesday September 10.

St Albans district council’s (SADC) planning referrals committee recently agreed to contribute up to £5,000 to help fight the incinerator at the inquiry.

It was one of many organisations which objected to the plans and is making a financial contribution towards costs incurred by Welwyn Hatfield borough council (WHBC), its partner in the fight.

Although the incinerator would be built within WHBC’s administrative area, at New Barnfield, there are fears that as it is so close to St Albans’ boundary there would be a visual impact.

Funding from SADC is a contribution to a landscape and visual impact assessment, expected to cost about £10,000.

According to a district council officer’s report, the likely visual impact is common ground between the two authorities, in relation to both councils’ objections.

The borough council will be fully involved in the public inquiry and has engaged consultants specialising in that area to speak on their and St Albans’ behalf.

Cllr Salih Gaygusuz said: “I like the idea of being good neighbours.”