VILLAGERS have been urged to hire an expert to prove their health and environment fears over plans to dump waste at a Hartlebury quarry "whatever the cost".

They fear materials such as arsenic and cyanide could be dumped in the Whitlenge quarry as part of Biffa's plans to dispose of "special waste", leading to potential birth defects and respiratory diseases.

The waste firm will have its appeal to fill the quarry heard by the planning inspectorate in July after the Environment Agency said it did not have sufficient information about possible contamination of a water supply to grant a licence.

Residents at a public meeting at the village church last Thursday were told there were only two grounds on which the appeal would be turned down - if it was proved the proposals created a risk to the environment and human health.

But they were urged to turn out in their hundreds for the appeal meeting at Stourton's Stewponey on July 24 to illustrate the strength of public feeling.

Denis Desmond - chairman of newly-formed HALT (Hartlebury Against Landfill Toxins) - said he had no idea what Biffa planned to dump at the Whitlenge Lane quarry if the licence was granted.

But examples of special waste include mercury, cadmium, cyanide, arsenic and carcinogenic materials.

"I don't want hazardous waste dumped in Hartlebury's back yard," he added. There were also fears the waste could seep through and contaminate a water supply below the quarry.

Chris Smart, who has co-ordinated a residents' group set up in response to a similar Biffa scheme at the Stewponey for the past two years, said it was vital HALT hired environmental consultant Alan Watson to present their fears at the hearing, costing about £4,000.

"Don't look at it as an out of pocket expense - look at it as an investment for your future health. I would ask you to consider employing him whatever the cost," she said.

And she said it was crucial they turned out in force for the hearing. "As communities we have got to stand together and show how strongly we feel against landfill sites this close to our homes."

Mrs Smart said Biffa's reassurance to Hartlebury Parish Council chairman John Webb that it intended to use Whitlenge for the same scale of operation as at neighbouring Waresley was villagers' "first argument" as the Waresley licence covered special waste.