Rose Energy is due to submit a planning application for a chicken waste incinerator power plant in the next few weeks, but more than 1,000 names are on a petition opposing the plans.

Ray Clarke, chairman of the community group, Communities Against Lough Neagh Incinerator, said: “These communities are concerned that this planning application will be pushed through without any proper consultation or consideration of any alternatives.

“Already, many meetings have gone on behind closed government doors. We understand the poultry industry has a problem to address, but there alternatives.

“We are amazed that a minister who claims to be protecting rural landscapes with policies like PPS14, can be considering the development of an industrial incinerator with an 80 metre chimney stack in close proximity to Lough Neagh, an area we should all be fighting to protect for future generations.”

Communities Against Lough Neagh Incinerator are working hard to build their petition against the power plant and, on Tuesday representatives met with Rose Energy bosses.

Ray said: “This proposal is being heralded as the solution to the poultry industry’s problems, but we know too well in Northern Ireland that quick fixes never last. The Assembly should be working to find a solution that makes the most of modern, ‘green’ technologies.”

Mr Clarke said the lack of assurances given to them during the meeting fuelled their concerns.

“We are extremely disappointed that this industrial size incinerator could go ahead with the support of our local Assembly without widespread consultation.

“Surely alternatives need to be considered before taxpayers’ money is handed over to build it.”

Following the meeting a spokesperson for Rose Energy said: “Since we announced our intentions in early January, we have met with various groups and individuals – including local residents on a number of occasions.

“We were pleased to meet with a representative group of residents from the Glenavy area and introduced them to three of our key consultants who are compiling an Environmental Impact Assessment which will form a crucial element of our planning application.

“These experts provided the group with our most recent project information and research findings on anticipated emission levels, local infrastructure assessment and health impact.