BROCKMOOR and Pensnett councillors have joined the fight against plans to build a new £40million recycling centre in Brierley Hill.

Clean Power Properties wants to build a waste conversion centre on the old Brierley Hill freight and steel terminal off Moor Street.

But residents living near the proposed eco facility, which would convert waste into renewable electricity and heat, are worried about extra traffic the scheme may generate.

They are also concerned about the impact it could have on the environment and health of those living nearby.

Around 100 residents have already submitted objections to Dudley Council.

And now councillors Judy Foster, John Martin and Karen Jordan, who represent people living in Lindsay Place, part of Moor Street and Norwood Road, have also joined the fight to get the application thrown out.

Cllr Foster said: ''Producing energy from waste is a good idea, but not at the proposed location as it is too close to residential properties in our ward.

“Our residents have had to endure on going nuisance over many years from odours, dust, rubbish and HGV transport from the nearby RDF site.

“We don't want to risk additional nuisance for our long suffering residents.

“Ideally, we would like to see the proposed location moved to somewhere more suitable.”

Clean Power Properties bosses say the planned low-rise nine-metre high recycling building would be surrounded by landscaped grounds and would be barely visible to most properties - and the scheme is not likely to create further traffic problems.

Managing director Harry Wyndham said: “We have listened to concerns voiced by the local community around lorries servicing the centre and will limit deliveries to daytime hours only.

“They will also be restricted to specific routes, meaning lorries will only use suitable roads that have been agreed with Dudley Council.”

He also stressed that residents have nothing to fear about noise or odour pollution, adding: “Our technology is a very safe, clean, quiet way to turn waste into renewable electricity - all processing happens in a sealed environment and therefore doesn't attract vermin, emit odours or cause noise disturbance to neighbours.”

The facility, which would produce renewable electricity for around 8,000 homes distributed through the local power network, would include an education centre and would create up to 30 new jobs.

The plan is expected to go before Dudley Council planners in the spring.

In the meantime cllrs Foster, Martin and Jordan hope to arrange a public meeting so residents can air their views directly to councillors, council officers and the applicants.

Mr Wyndham said Clean Power Properties was committed to working with the community and added: “As part of this, in January we held the second exhibition in our ongoing programme of consultation. Despite the poor weather the exhibition was well attended and we received a good level of feedback from the community.

"We are continuing our consultations and have spoken with councillors about their concerns - and we look forward to meeting with them to discuss the plans in more detail.”