THE company which runs the Edmonton incinerator has revealed that the planned extension of the plant would mean between 60 and 160 extra lorries coming and going every day.

LondonWaste claimed the extra dust carts and lorries would not clog up residential streets near the plant, off the A406 North Circular Road.

Currently the plant burns 800,000 tonnes of household waste each year. The expansion would enable it to deal with an extra 200,000 tonnes.

It would mean using 160 extra lorries or transferring waste to larger vehicles.

Using bigger lorries would result in less than 60 extra trips per day. LondonWaste managing director Nigel Young said: "We realise handling all of north London's household waste will result in more deliveries to the plant but we are working to minimise this."

The company plans to order the new lorries to use only the plant's private junction with the Angel Road section of the North Circular Road.

According to LondonWaste, independent experts have concluded that the environmental and traffic impact of the extension would be minimal.

Mr Young said: "The new lorries will not be travelling through residential areas. Most will also be coming and going off-peak so they will not add to congestion."

Open evenings are being held at the plant to inform the public about how the incinerator works and explain the process by which burnt waste generates electricity for up to 24,000 homes.

The plant can be visited on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, September 1, 2 and 4 from 3pm to 8pm. For details call 884 5537. The final decision on whether the extension can go ahead will be made by new Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Mandelson on advice from the Government's Environment Agency.

Anyone wishing to log a comment on the proposal should write by September 30 to the Environment Agency, PIR/RSR team, Apollo Court, 2 Bishop Square, St Albans Road West, Hatfield, Herts, AL10 9E.

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