A CONTROVERSIAL waste treatment plant should not be built in Huncoat until the site gets better access, according to Hyndburn Council.

Lancashire County Council's proposals for the recycling facility on a former power station site went before the Hyndburn's planning committee.

The committee recommended that an access off Junction 8 of the M65, which would also take traffic to Whinney Hill tip, should be looked at fully before the plans went ahead.

Members felt the access road proposed in the application, which will run from the Griffin roundabout through protected greenbelt land, was not acceptable.

Coun Dave Parkins said Hyndburn Council may have to accept the waste works in Huncoat in order to get a much-needed access road off the M65.

He said: "I am very concerned about this bypass road. I am a stickler for protecting the green belt but we need a bypass of some sort. I have been campaigning for one since I came on the council 12 years ago."

But some members did not want the plant to go ahead at all. It would have four main buildings -- a composting facility and a biological treatment facility, as well as buildings to sort and store waste.

Coun Doug Hayes said: "I think it is weakening the cause by looking forward to this Junction 8 exit, which will still bring in the pollution to the area. I am against the waste station."

The borough council had received 308 letters of objection to the proposals and Huncoat resident, Reid Lewis, addressed the committee on behalf of two groups set up to fight the

proposals, Huncoat Voice and Hyndburn CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England).

He said: "We would like you to join us and help us to fight this waste plant. We can't do this alone, we need your support. Please give Huncoat a future better than its past."

Campaigners have organised a second demonstration on Saturday, November 26, and protesters will march from the Whitaker Arms pub, starting at 11am, down Burnley Road, through Broadway to Accrington Town Hall.