PLANS to build a £100million incinerator went on display in Plymouth city centre as a month-long 'waste roadshow' drew to a close.

About 50 people went through the doors of the Guildhall to find out more about a proposed energy from waste (EfW) plant, which will handle household rubbish from Plymouth, Torbay and South Devon.

The South West Devon Waste Partnership (SWDWP) decided it was time to show off the plans drawn up by its four remaining bidders after it announced five other interested firms were out of the running.

German waste company MVV Umwelt has proposed incinerators at sites in Ernesettle and in Devonport Naval Base's North Yard, while Sita has put forward a proposal for the South Yard. Viridor is focusing on its own site at New England Quarry near Lee Mill.

The plans have come up against fierce opposition in Ernesettle and the STIFLE (Stop The Incinerator Fouling Land at Ernesettle) group also set up shop in the Guildhall to raise awareness of their campaign.

STIFLE's Stuart Lane, also a lecturer at the University of Plymouth, described the proposal as "anti-social", adding that increased recycling should be the way forward.

He said: "Overall there is a feeling that perhaps this is both the wrong site and the wrong technology.

"A number of people share our concerns about noise, smells and pollution in general.

"It isn't a brownfield site and what local people want to see there is more access to recreational facilities."

Project director for the SWDWP, Mark Turner, said the roadshow was aimed at allaying fears over views, emissions and traffic, especially from those living near the proposed sites.

He said: "It's great that people have been coming with really good questions – and hopefully they are walking away with a better understanding."

However, Estover couple Andrew and Faye Blackwell, who were at the event to oppose the Naval Base proposals, demanded a full public meeting.

"We have got to look at the long-term aspects of this," Andrew said. "Not only does it affect us, it will affect our children and our childrens' children."

Gitty Ankers, environmental waste planner for the Environment Agency, which will regulate the proposed incinerator, said: "We're not here to say 'This is the technology Plymouth should go for'. There are other techniques for dealing with waste but we need to get energy from our waste. As a society we can no longer put it into landfill."

Read the arguments at www.ernesettle.org.uk and www.plymouth.gov.uk/swdwp.html