A CRUCIAL decision on a massive £30 million domestic waste incinerator in Hampshire was being taken today.

The county council's planning and transport committee meets in Winchester to discuss plans submitted by Hampshire Waste Services for a huge dome-shaped burner at Marchwood.

Councillors were being recommended to approve the controversial scheme, despite protests from environmentalists and other campaigners.

The proposed incinerator has been especially tailored to minimise any detrimental effects of smell, smoke, noise or air pollution in the surrounding area.

But that has not prevented numerous individuals and organisations from objecting to the proposals for the energy-from-waste project, which would burn 165,000 tonnes of rubbish each year and generate enough electricity for 14,000 homes.

Marchwood Parish Council has submitted a long list of concerns, mainly relating to the large number of lorries visiting the site, and says Southampton waste burned at the plant should be delivered across the water by barge.

Totton and Eling Town Council has also expressed fears over extra traffic.

The New Forest Committee has called for a more detailed assessment of the impact and Southampton Test MP Alan Whitehead reckons a higher number of smaller facilities would be better than one enormous one.

A strong attack on the environmental and pollution aspects of the project has been made by the Communities Against Toxics group.

They say it is unfair that the project put forward by Hampshire Waste Services should be decided upon by the county council, its waste disposal partner.

Councillors were also looking at a letter from Brockenhurst Allotment Association.

Although eight miles from the site, gardeners say "airborne pollution could have an adverse effect on produce grown on the allotments and on the health of the allotment workers in the longer term".

But the committee was being recommended to approve the proposed development.

A report to councillors says: "The government considers that emissions from such plants are strictly regulated and that environment protection standards are sufficient.

"It is considered that the emissions and operation of the proposed plant are capable of meeting existing and proposed European and UK standards.

"Consequently there would not be an objection on the grounds of a significant health risk."

Planning permission for a similar scheme at Chineham, near Basingstoke, was approved by the county council last year.