MORE than 180 people went to an exhibition about an incinerator which could be built at Hartlebury.

Traffic, air quality and visual impact were among concerns raised about the facility called Mercia EnviRecover.

If given the go ahead, the incinerator will be used to dispose of 200,000 tonnes of unrecycable household rubbish in Worcestershire and Herefordshire and will create enough electricity to power a town the size of Kidderminster.

Neighbouring businesses will also be given the option to use heat generated by the incinerator.

Specialists in planning, technology, traffic and emissions were on hand at the exhibition to answer the visitor’s questions along with company representatives.

Javier Peiro, co-director of Mercia Waste Management said: “We are really pleased that local people took the time to come and visit the exhibition.

“We have taken on board people’s concerns about traffic, air quality and the visual impact, as well as other issues, associated with out proposal.

“These will be valuable insights to inform our Environmental Impact Assessments.

“At the same time, we are encouraged by the broad support shown for the need to do something about municipal waste which currently goes to landfill.”

More public events and meetings are expected in the future as the company puts together its planning application.

Next it will undertake a range of environmental impact assessments before feeding back its discoveries to the public in the New Year.