OBJECTORS to a proposed chicken slurry incinerator in Co Antrim have branded the scheme a "Lough Neagh monster", ahead of a weekend protest rally.

Three big-name companies are behind plans for a "poultry litter" burning plant in Glenavy, close to the Lough.

It would involve creating an incineration plant for chicken bedding material and manure, with electricity being generated from the process.

Opponents claim the scheme represents a serious environmental threat and are planning a major drive to stop it securing planning permission.

A protest rally has been called for Saturday and organisers are inviting people from across the province to attend.

It will begin at 12.30pm on the Edenturcher Road and conclude at the nearby Ballyvannon Road.

The incineration plant proposals have been drawn up by Rose Energy, involving O'Kane Poultry Ltd, Moy Park and Glenfarm Holdings. Glenfarm runs a large-scale animal carcass rendering plant at Glenavy.

The incinerator proposals include burning meat and bone meal from Glenfarm's operations, as well as poultry waste.

Rose Energy is pushing its plan from a green perspective, in terms of generating electricity and dealing with agricultural waste from across the province.

The European Union's Nitrates Directive, aimed at preventing pollution from farming sources, is a key issue in the debate. It places restrictions on the traditional practice of spreading poultry litter on fields as fertiliser.

Opponents of the Glenavy incineration scheme argue that alternative solutions must be explored.

Saturday's rally is being organised by a group called Communities Against Lough Neagh Incinerator.

It issued a statement yesterday entitled "Lough Neagh monster must be killed off".

The group's chairman, Ray Clarke, said: "While we have enormous sympathy for the poultry farmers, as a community we did not create the problems that the industry now faces and we should not be forced to bear the consequences of a 'fix' that is simply another profit generator for Moy Park, O'Kane's Poultry and Glenfarm Holdings Ltd.

He added: "Vested interests should not be allowed to dictate policy to government and government should not blindly follow a single option because it is easy and cheap. We do not believe our MLAs will allow this to happen.

"We are calling on all politicians and interested groups to ensure that they fulfil their roles as the guardians of the public interest.

"The EC Nitrates Directive has presented a problem to all livestock farmers in Northern Ireland and a solution must be found that meets the needs of every farmer without creating harm which will ultimately impact on every part of our community.

"This is just the start of our campaign and we are determined that a full public debate on incineration takes place. We will not allow it to be slipped in by the back door."

Rose Energy states that poultry bedding and meat and bone meal - both called biomass fuel sources - are already used successfully as green fuels in power plants in the UK.

It also says its proposed plant would deliver up to one third of the renewable energy which Northern Ireland is obligated to produce.

The company is aiming to have the incinerator operational by late 2010 or early 2011, subject to planning approval.

But objectors will be pressing the DoE and Environment Minister Sammy Wilson to refuse permission or, failing that, to call a public inquiry.

Originally published by DAVID GORDON INVESTIGATIONS CORRESPONDENT dgordon@belfasttelegraph.co.uk.

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Story Source: Belfast Telegraph