COYPOOL has been ruled out as a site for a waste incinerator to handle domestic rubbish from Plymouth, Torbay and South Devon.

But Ernesettle residents vowed to step up their fight after two schemes there were shortlisted, along with sites at Devonport Dockyard and a quarry south of Lee Mill.

The South West Devon Waste Partnership announced yesterday that it had chosen three waste companies – MVV Umwelt, SITA UK and Viridor – to put forward more detailed plans.

The northern end of the Imerys China Clay drying works at Coypool, north of Marsh Mills, had been earmarked for a possible energy-from-waste plant, but was not put forward by any of the three companies shortlisted to build and run the plant. The three companies have come up with five different plans between them, all for incinerators, at Ernesettle, North Yard and South Yard Devonport and New England Quarry. MVV Umwelt and SITA have proposals for Ernesettle and Devonport and Viridor has put forward its own site at New England Quarry.

The final solution and location will be chosen by the partnership. The public will be able to comment when the chosen company submits a planning application.

City Cabinet member Cllr Michael Leaves said: "This does really rule out Coypool. We have gone through the bids and scored them, and now they will go into deeper negotiations. We aren't ruling anything in or out."

Plympton St Mary councillor Patrick Nicholson welcomed the announcement. "That would be good news for the people who live around Coypool," he said. "It was never ideal because of the potential impact on Marsh Mills.

"I'm pleased the bidders are looking at the naval base. That would give water access which I think Plymouth should go out of its way to use."

Before any development can take place, the contract will need to be awarded to a bidder, who will then need to receive planning permission.

There will be a one-day exhibition of the proposals in Plymouth Guildhall in August, and a series of roadshows around the region later in the year. The choice will be narrowed down in the autumn.

Geraldine Lane, chair of STIFLE (ww.ernesettle.org.uk), the Ernesettle group fighting the incinerator, said: "Many authorities are aiming for a zero waste strategy which involves the whole community reducing their waste and increasing recycling.

"This is where any forward-looking authority should be investing – is this really the legacy we want for our children and grandchildren?

STIFLE will be stepping up its campaign now that Ernesettle is most likely to be the preferred site."

Find out more on the partnership's website swdwp.co.uk.