COUNTY planners have postponed the meeting which will decide the fate of the controversial SWERF waste treatment plant in Canterbury.

A decision on the scheme was expected to be taken next week but now it has been put off until next month.

Kent County Council says it needs more time to study evidence and data before making its judgement and has now pencilled in the meeting for Tuesday, December 16.

The application for the solid waste to energy recycling facility at the Shelford landfill site at Broad Oak has been submitted by Brett Waste Management.

The technology behind the process is being developed by Australian company Brightstar Environmental.

It claims it is the "green" answer to deal with the growing volume of waste which is fast filling up landfill sites.

But it has caused a storm of protest over the potential pollution risks. Residents nearby are fearful over what emissions the process will produce and say the chimney is too low.

There are also concerns about the number of potential refuse lorry movements.

Chairman of the KCC's planning applications committee, John London, said: "The scheme has prompted enormous public interest and it is vital the committee makes the correct decision.

"We have gone out of our way to hear local people's views and have listened carefully to what they have said.

"We also gave an undertaking to fully investigate any issues raised by the technical panel and this work is not quite complete.

"I am disappointed that we cannot consider this application on November 11, but it is important that we have all the information we need to make the right decision."