THE number of samples which would be taken each year to monitor emissions of dioxins, heavy metals and hydrofluoric acid if the burner went ahead were dismissed as "ridiculous."

Ken Stroud, of Bewdley Civic Society, told the meeting on Thursday the Environment Agency would only require monitoring of these substances twice a year at the plant.

He added: "I understand the operator will only take a few spot checks annually for dioxins.

"With a wide range of feed substances to the incinerator and operational variations and problems this is ridiculous.

"I have been involved in the collection and testing of drinking water and effluent samples for most of my working life and I know how easy it is to avoid taking unsatisfactory spot check samples."

And Mr Stroud said because the effects of emissions of dioxins and other particulates from the plant would be not be known for years to come it was no good looking to recent studies for guidance on what the impact of health would be.

"Cancer and other illnesses take years to develop," he said.

He added the Environment Agency said the burner would not have an "unacceptable impact" on human health.

However, it did not explain what the definition of an "acceptable impact" was.

Clare Cassidy, who has been at the forefront of the battle against the burner as a spokeswoman for Stop Kidderminster Incinerator, (SKI) said residents had continually been denied the information they needed by "decision makers" since 1996.

She said: "We still do not have the answers to some very basic questions and we're now halfway through this planning inquiry.

"We do not know how much waste will be recycled by this plant - is it eight per cent or less.

"If we don't know, how can we make a decision?"

Mrs Cassidy, a resident of Oldington and Foley Park and governor at Birchen Coppice School, said another issue needing an answer was how long the plant would be closed for during a year and what would happen to the waste which would have been processed there.