A local action group has submitted a final plea to Devon County Council to reject plans for an incinerator at Lee Mill.

EcoIvy has been campaigning against waste company Viridor's proposals for an energy from waste facility comprising of a 275,000 tonne a year incinerator and 970,000 tonne landfill at New England Quarry.

The Environment Agency has announced its draft decision is to grant Viridor a permit for the proposed incinerator – but the overriding decision over the application will be decided on October 24 by Devon County Council, who have recommended refusal.

The deadline for public comments on the application to the EA is today and EcoIvy is desperately urging residents to have their say.

Anyone can comment on the draft documents but the EA will only take into consideration comments about missing, inaccurate or new information.

Charlotte Mills from EcoIvy said: 'Even if it only takes 15 minutes, your reply will be counted.

'Viridor does not have enough waste in Devon, believe it or not, as it lost the South West Devon Waste Partner-ship contract it was bidding for which will burn domestic waste.

'Despite being repeatedly asked where it is getting its waste from, Viridor won't say.

'Viridor will either have to bring in waste from elsewhere in the South West (clogging our roads) or, if there is not enough waste, the incinerator will have to burn it in batches.

'This technology is very inefficient and very polluting if run in this way.'

Other issues EcoIvy is concerned about include light pollution and flooding.

Charlotte added: 'We feel the EA have not been diligent in checking their facts, including the incorrect classification of New England Quarry as an urban development and wrongly assuming the site accepted landfill.

The draft New England Quarry EA permit can be viewed at http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/waste/121707.aspx">www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/waste/121707.aspx and hard copies are available at Ivybridge Library at the Watermark, Erme Court, Leonards Road, Ivybridge, PL21 OSZ and also at South Hams Council, Follaton House, Plymouth Road, Totnes.

To get your views and comments across email [email protected]">[email protected] or return by post to Environment Agency, Permitting Support Centre, Environment Permit Team, Quadrant 2, 99 Parkway Avenue, Sheffield, S9 4WF.

People are advised to quote reference number EPR/LP3936KF on all submissions.

Charlotte explained: 'After a year's delay, Devon's planners will finally decide whether to give planning permission to Viridor on October 24.

'It was way back in July 2011 the council planning officers recommended a refusal of Viridor's application for a huge incinerator and million tonne landfill at New England Quarry.

'Before councillors were able to make their decision Viridor asked to defer the planning decision in order submit further information which they felt could change the officers recommendation.

'The planning decision was deferred again in April at Viridor's request and the council agreed.

'EcoIvy and other community environmental groups are going to make representations to the councillors who will be making the decision on October 24.

'We will be reminding them of the grave concerns the local residents and neighbouring communities have about the proposed incinerator, ash plant and landfill.

'We will be insisting the councillors decline the application and we urge people to write again to their local councillors to tell them to refuse.

'At the outset Viridor said it would listen to the concerns of the community. Now is the time to tell councillors to say no.'