A PUBLIC meeting will be held next week regarding proposals for a waste incinerator in Newport.

Members of the Stop Newport Incinerator Campaign (SNIC) will be hosting the meeting to explain to residents about the possible development on Bowleaze Common land south of Llanwern Steelworks.

The Argus previously reported how more than 1,600 people have signed petitions opposing the plans with fears that it will send toxic waste into the air and have a negative impact on wildlife and the surrounding area.

The campaign is calling for a stop to be put to the proposals now. This is despite the plan being just one of three options submitted by Veolia ES Aurora Ltd for an Energy Recovery Facility for the Prosiect Gwyrdd contract – a joint initiative by five councils including Newport to cut the amount of waste sent to landfill.

Three companies are currently bidding for the Prosiect Gwyrdd contract with different schemes proposed in Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil and Newport. A preferred scheme is due to be chosen next year.

Deputy leader of the Green Party in Wales, Pippa Bartolotti, who is also a member of the campaign said: "We need to take action now and persuade the Assembly and our Newport councillors to make a safe decision for our communities by rethinking the entire waste strategy and moving to more acceptable methods of dealing with waste.

"We want to invite the public to the meeting to fill them in on the plans and get their opinions. We want to see what people want."

The meeting will be held on June 9 at Nash Village Hall, starting at 7pm.

A petition opposing the incinerator can be signed at www.assemblywales.org/gethome/e-petitions/sign-petition.htm