A NEW access road to the proposed Huncoat waste plant will cut across green belt land despite protests of local residents and Hyndburn MP Greg Pope.

The decision comes after months of lobbying by campaigners to persuade the Highways Agency to find an alternative access to the former Huncoat power station site off the M65 or A56.

But it seems campaigning has been in vain.

Tomorrow, Lancashire County Council develop-ment control committee is expected to approve plans for a access road which cuts through green belt land round the village.

Access to the site would be from busy Burnley Road.

The move has been slammed by local residents who formed protest group Huncoat Voice to campaign against the waste plant.

Local councillor Paul Gott, of James Street, Huncoat, said: "It is inevitable that the waste treatment works is going to be built at the site, but the issue of the road cutting through green belt land is one we strongly oppose.

"We have talked to the Highways Agency and Government ministers and shared our concerns with them and it is very disappointing that these concerns seem to have been ignored."

Mr Pope said he remained "far from convinced" by the project.

The plan has been submitted by the county council as part of its drive to increase recycling and reduce the amount of landfill waste.

The proposed plant would compromise four main buildings a composting facility, a biological treatment facility, and buildings to sort and store waste.

The plant would be less than a mile from Whinney Hill tip.

Mr Gott added: "We are trying to regenerate our area. This isn't a case of not in my back yard', we just haven't got a back yard big enough for two bins."

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: "We have investigated alternative access arrange-ments from the highway network and the Highways Agency has been consulted.

"No alternatives have been found acceptable to the Highways Agency, who continue to raise no objection to that currently proposed."