A six-week formal consultation on a planning application for a waste incinerator near King's Lynn begins today. It will run until Wednesday, August 3.

More than 65,000 people voted against the proposal, in a poll organised by West Norfolk council.

Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman has written to Norfolk County Council expressing her concern at the strength of opposition to the plan.

But the county council has voted to award the contract to Anglo-US consortium Cory Wheelabrator, which has now submitted its planning application.

In a statement today, the county council said it was keen to hear views from as many people as possible and all views are welcome.

It said the issues that planners can take into account when assessing an application are defined in planning law.

They include noise impact, dust, smell, air pollution and health, traffic congestion, road safety, flood risk, trees and wildlife, design and landscape, ground conditions.

People will be able to make their views known online, where the application documents and plans will be available to view, along with comments made on the application.

There will also be 'drop-in' sessions, which will give people the chance to view the application documents and plans, to ask questions about the planning process and to submit comments.

Two extra drop-in sessions have been added in Norwich making a total of six. Dates for the drop-in sessions are:

These are being held at Gaywood Library, River Lane, Gaywood, on Tuesday, June 28 and Thursday, July 14 (3 - 8pm); King's Lynn Library, London Road, on Saturday, July 2 (10am - 3pm) and Wednesday, July 13 (3 - 8pm).

The Millennium Library, The Forum, Norwich, on Tuesday, July 5 (5 - 8pm).

The Archive Centre, County Hall, Martineau Lane, Norwich, Wednesday, July 6 (5 - 8pm).

Copies of the application will be placed at County Hall (Martineau Lane, Norwich), Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk offices (King's Court, Chapel Street, King's Lynn), local libraries in the King's Lynn area (King's Lynn, Gaywood, Dersingham, Hunstanton, Downham Market) and in Norwich (The Millennium Library at The Forum) as they become available and at the drop-in sessions.

As with all planning applications a recommendation on whether to grant planning permission will then go before members of the County Council's Planning (Regulatory) Committee for consideration. This meeting will be held in public.