THE developers of the multi-million pound waste treatment plant in Herefordshire's Golden Valley have promised a policy of openness as they begin preparations to construct their plant in Madley.

After south Herefordshire planners gave their approval to Estech Europe Ltd to build the facility in Stoney Street, the firm's chief executive Jonathan Allen said everything possible would be done to allay villagers' fears.

"We acknowledge some people have genuine concerns about both the process and what impact it will have on their lives," he said.

"We will do all we can to reassure all those living locally that the process is extremely safe and hazard free, and that the impact on their lives will, in effect, be much less than they probably fear."

"It will in any event be no greater than if the industrial site was developed to its existing planning consent," he added.

But these promises seem to have done little to appease the campaign group, Waste Watchers.

Waste Watcher Christine Johnson-Marshall said: "We are meeting an environmental lawyer on April 5 to see if we have a case to take this to a judicial review."

"We believe this is possible because of the way the whole planning process was handled by Herefordshire Council."