Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly has stated that the application for planning permission for an incinerator at Hightown on the outskirts of North Belfast by the arc21 group is a bad idea and shows clearly that those behind the project "have not listened" to concerns about such a plant in Belfast.

Mr Kelly said: "This planning application for the Hightown incineration plant has been long delayed due to the huge local opposition against it.

"There's massive concern in the area about the impact of this proposal and it is clear that those behind the arc21 project have not listened.

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"The air quality alerts in the Belfast basin have already been highlighted as very poor especially in high pressure weather conditions when the fumes cannot escape and collect over Belfast.

"Add to this the predicted hundreds of lorry journeys each and every day through the heart of this community transporting large amounts of waste and it is clear that any incinerator is a bad idea.

"The long term viability is extremely questionable and we could soon become a net importer of waste from other jurisdictions.

"Sinn Féin are against the process of incineration across Ireland as a method of dealing with waste.

"We are calling on other political parties to publicly state their position on this proposal. A united opposition to this plant would much better serve those who would be affected."

(CD/JP)