A suggestion to build a waste facility on ten acres of mature woodland in Kenley has been criticised by council officers.

The site between Hawkhirst Road and Longwood Road was put forward by the landowner to deal with future waste from South London Waste Partnership(SLWP) members Croydon, Sutton, Kingston and Merton.

Fears have been rife throughout the four boroughs that an incinerator will form part of any new facilities, although Croydon’s controlling Conservative councillors have been quick to deny such plans.

Council officers scored the woodland poorly as a practical solution given its importance for nature conservation and status as part of the Green Belt.

A total of eight new sites were put forward by residents in the latest phase of the SLWP consultation, in addition to the 28 shortlisted by the group last summer.

The SLWP hopes to publish its Waste Plan between October and November 2010, which will then be examined by the Secretary of State and an independent inspector before being adopted in winter 2011.

Seperately, a £1bn tendering contract is set to be awarded in March 2011, with any new facility due to become operational by spring 2014.