THE consultation over a controversial biomass plant in Southampton is flawed, a senior city councillor told a packed public meeting last night.

Environment and transport boss Cllr Matt Dean revealed developers Helius Energy had not given city residents enough time to come to meetings, had not shown residents any revised drawings and had even ignored city council requests for information.

He said: “I am worried the consultation so far has actually been flawed. Their engagement with the local authority, and by the sounds of it the residents, is simply disastrous and deeply disturbing.”

Last night’s meeting was held by the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC), an independent body which examines planning applications of national significance.

Helius Energy is due to submit their planning application in the summer when the IPC will review whether it should go ahead – but new laws mean the final decision is likely to be made by Westminster.

Hundreds of residents who crammed into the three-hour meeting at Holy Trinity Church in Millbrook say they feel let down by Helius who want to build a 100MW power station on land in the Western Docks, a stone’s throw from city homes.

One resident said: “We feel we are being met by a wall of silence by Helius or getting a blanket response to questions.

We don’t feel enough people are being told about this monstrosity which will affect the whole city.”

IPC representatives assured householders their views do count and added that if the application is accepted in the preliminary stage, residents will have further chance to get in touch with the IPC.

A spokeswoman said: “By not conducting a proper consultation process, Helius are putting themselves at risk of their application being rejected at the very first stage.

“Now is your chance to tell Helius of any concerns before the end of the consultation on April 21. Now is the only chance you will have to influence and shape the proposal.”

Hundreds of protesters from the No Southampton Biomass group, who have already staged two public protests, vowed to power on with their fight by organising further meetings.

They fear if they don’t continue fighting for the city, the decision to build the plant may go ahead due to the UK’s need to fill a quota for producing alternative fuels.