RESIDENTS who are opposed to plans for a second waste plant near London Colney have started in a petition in a last-ditch attempt to get the application thrown out.

As reported by the Review earlier this year, residents are already blighted by the smell coming from an existing plant which operates in South Mimms, and fear another site at Coursers Farm in Coursers Road will cause even more of a stink.

Just a week before the planning application by Agrivert is due to be considered by Hertfordshire County Council, on Tuesday, June 19, London Colney residents have joined forces and launched a petition to persuade county councillors to turn it down.

Ward councillor Jacob Quagliozzi said: "I and other local councillors have been inundated with complaints from residents, especially from the Thamesdale estate about this existing site - the smell is unbearable from even 500 yards away."

Campaign for Rural England, Colney Heath Parish Council and St Albans District Council have objected.

Ian Orton, chairman of London Colney Parish Council, said: "The parish council has voted unanimously to oppose this scheme, we must only make recommendations and the plan is now with the county council who will consider the application. We must show that local residents have very serious reservations about this development."

The proposed site could deal with food waste from the commercial and industrial sectors, including restaurants and schools, where as the existing site deals with green, kitchen and cardboard waste collected from across the county.