A MARCH against a planned incinerator will take place this weekend - amid claims the plant could spread pollution to Ilkley.

People in and around Ilkley are being asked to support the Aire Valley Against Incineration March which aims to raise awareness of the "dangers" from the waste to energy incinerator proposed for Keighley.

The plans were recently called in to the Secretary of State for Communities’ department by Shipley MP Philip Davies where they await closer inspection.

Dr Ros Brown, a Ben Rhydding parent and member of Keighley and Ilkley Green Party, raised concerns about the incinerator with Ilkley Parish Council last month.

She said: "Since then I've received encouragement and support from people in Ilkley who are deeply concerned about plans for the incinerator. We don't have any confidence that the monitoring of emissions from this plant will be sufficient to prevent dangerous pollution over a widespread area including Ilkley. I'd urge local people who care about stopping this incinerator to come along and support the March this Saturday'.

Jane Stone who began the campaign against the incinerator is urging everyone who can to attend.

"The fight against this polluting eyesore is not over yet," she said. "We owe it to current and future generations to do all we can to stop this. It is still possible to object on Bradford Council’s planning site."

The protest will take place on Saturday, March 25 when local residents, families and members of the public will meet at East Morton recreation ground at 12.30pm, before setting off at 1pm to move down Carr Lane, then Swine Lane and onto Bradford Road. From there the march will go through Victoria Park and on up to Keighley town centre.

Organiser Rachel Shimbles said: "Everyone is welcome to join the march anywhere along the route and bring their own banners. There will also be a prize for the best home-made banner by an under 14 year old."

Endless Energy has said the facility would bring employment to Keighley while operating to the highest national and international environment standards.

A Bradford Council planning committee gave the go-ahead to the hugely controversial energy plant in February.

Jo Steel, agent for the application, told the meeting he understood health and pollution matters were "a concern to objectors" but added this was a matter for the Environment Agency, which would only issue an operating permit after a detailed assessment of the plans.

He said the company had plants operating in 11 areas and asked whether this would be the case if there were legitimate concerns about safety.