Campaigners against an incinerator on the Croydon/Sutton border are appealing for money to fight a legal battle against the proposal.

Members of the Stop the Incinerator campaign believe they will need at least £5,000 to begin legal proceedings should the controversial plan for Beddington Lane be approved.

Waste company Viridor submitted its planning application for the waste burning facility last month to Sutton Council, which is processing it.

Dave Pettener, who lives in Waddon, said, “Both the council and Viridor claim they have consulted with, and listened to, the local community. “However, their actions clearly contradict this statement, as the residents who live on the borders of Sutton and Croydon have said a resounding no to this proposal. “With the planning application having now been submitted we urgently need to raise funds to launch a legal challenge.”

The group have had advice that £5,000 is the minimum that would be required to hire a no win no fee legal firm to take their case, should the plans be approved by Sutton Council.

Secretary of the Stop The Incinerator campaign, Shasha Khan said: “We are a small dedicated group of local residents with homes, jobs and families and we are working entirely on a voluntary basis. “We are taking on the might of a FTSE 100 company.”

A date has yet to be set for when the plan will go before Sutton Planning committee To support the campaign send a cheque made payable to Stop The Incinerator to Stop the Incinerator, 6 Commerce Way, Croydon, CR0 4XA