THE message that Astwood Bank does not want an animal incinerator was driven home to the developer when more than 400 people turned out to a public meeting.

The application to install a 24-hour incinerator near the village first school has galvanised feeling among villagers and Popes Lane Animal By-Products Ltd was left in little doubt that it has a fight on its hands.

Company co-directors Dr Bernard Acton and Martyn Wharmby were at last Tuesday's meeting, at the Church Road school, to address concerns.

The company bought the Popes Lane yard in May and has since applied for a licence to run an incinerator, burning up to one tonne of animal carcasses an hour.

Planning permission already exists for the incinerator building from a previous 1991 application and the company is now seeking to build a canteen, accommodation and laboratory building.

The directors said traffic to and from the site would not increase, no diseased animals would be brought there and that the incinerator would fulfil a local Worcestershire and Warwickshire need for animal disposal.

But residents were not convinced, saying the mere presence of an incinerator would ruin the village's sought-after status.

There was also concern about noxious fumes escaping during the frequent power cuts suffered in the area and people were left unconvinced that traffic to the site would not increase.

But the main concern was the incinerator's vicinity to the school and possible health implications for children.

ABAI's website is at www.abai.org.uk