ACTIVISTS fighting to prevent a waste incinerator being built at Ernesettle have attacked plans for a public exhibition today as 'underhand'.

The exhibition will be at the Guildhall in Plymouth from 10am to 3pm.

The South West Devon Waste Partnership will be giving an update on its plans for a new treatment plant to handle all waste from Plymouth, Torbay and South Devon. Three bidders proposing five solutions have been shortlisted to manage waste for the partnership comprising Plymouth City Council, Torbay Council and Devon County Council.

The purpose-built facility would provide heat and power from the region's waste, diverting it away from landfill.

Land at Ernesettle has been earmarked as a possible site for an incinerator.

Geraldine Lane, chair of STIFLE, the group fighting to prevent an incinerator at Ernesettle, said: "The partnership is engaging in underhand tactics.

"STIFLE was led to believe that the first of the roadshows would be held, at the earliest, at the end of August, but probably later than that.

"We have just found out that the roadshow will be held in Plymouth Guildhall at a peak holiday time, when many local concerned families will be away from the city," she said.

Mrs Lane called on the partnership to hold a second exhibition in the Guildhall at the end of September, with at least three weeks' notice.

Mark Turner, the project director, said: "We gave an undertaking to have quarterly briefings for the public, and unfortunately this quarter falls in the middle of August.

"By November's briefing, we'll be down to the final bidders."

Three companies – MVV Umwelt, Sita UK and Viridor – have been chosen to put forward more detailed plans for waste handling. The three have come up with five different plans between them, all for incinerators, at Ernesettle, in Devonport's North and South Yards and at New England Quarry near Lee Mill.

MVV Umwelt and Sita have proposals for Ernesettle and Devonport and Viridor has put forward its own site at New England Quarry.

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

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

More information on the work of the partnership can be found at www.swdwp.co.uk

Find out about STIFLE at www.ernesettle.org.uk