SITA has said its plans to build a waste incinerator in Severn Beach have received the support of local people.

The company, which plans to build a 400,000 tonne Energy Recovery Centre on Severn Road, said its six days of public consultation last month were successful and produced mostly positive feedback.

Gareth Phillips, SITA UK's planning and property manager, said: "The response from members of the public was generally very positive. Anecdotally, consensus was that people welcomed the opportunity to engage with us at such an early stage in the planning process and felt they were being given a genuine opportunity to express their views."

The commercial waste incinerator being proposed by the company would see the development of an eight-hectare site on the banks of the River Severn which would be capable of burning 400,000 tonnes of plastic, packaging and general rubbish and generate enough power for 50,000 homes.

If the plant gets the go ahead it will save the region £19.2 million a year in landfill tax.

Last month SITA held public displays in Severn Beach, Pilning, Easter Compton and Hallen detailing its plans for the development and more than 150 residents attended over the six days.

Mr Phillips said: "The consultation process did enable us to identify several issues of local interest, namely traffic, design of the building and emissions associated with the energy recovery process.

"However, people were more focused with getting clarity on these issues rather than declaring them as reasons for outright opposition.

"Indeed, the majority of visitors arriving at events used the opportunity to discuss issues they identified with members of our planning team and subsequently left expressing their support. This is a position also evidenced by the written feedback forms we received."

Mr Phillips also said that the feedback received would be considered before the final planning application is submitted to South Gloucestershire Council in the autumn.