A series of public exhibitions on plans for a controversial waste incinerator in West Norfolk have been announced.

Anglo-US waste consortium Cory Wheelabrator has recently been appointed by Norfolk County Council to build an 'energy from waste' plant on the edge of King's Lynn.

The consortium now wants to hear from the public over the next couple of months with the aim of submitting planning and permit applications by next spring.

Last night, consortium spokesman Richard Wilkinson told the EDP there will be six chances for the public to view the controversial proposal in January and February.

He said: 'We are looking forward to presenting our solution for Norfolk's residual waste and introducing ourselves to the community.

'We are fully aware of the issues being raised with regard to the proposal and in the New Year we will be seeking to answer these at our public exhibitions.

'We hope that this will help to set the record straight and allay the concerns that have been expressed about our plans.'

The exhibitions will kick off at the Duke's Head Hotel on King's Lynn's Tuesday Market Place on Friday, January 14 from 12pm to 8pm and the following day from 10am to 4pm.

Downham Market residents will get their chance to view the proposal at the Town Hall on Friday, January 28 between 9am and 4pm.

Further exhibitions will then be held at the Parish Church in Fakenham on Thursday, February 3 and two days later between 9am and 4pm at the Assembly Rooms in Swaffham.

Finally residents will be able to view the plans at the library in Wisbech on Thursday, February 10 from 10am to 5pm.

There will be also a series of newsletters distributed to 24,000 residents around the site.

If built, the Willows power and recycling centre on the Saddlebow industrial estate would be capable of treating up to 268,000 tonnes of household and commercial waste every year.

Mr Wilkinson said the 'energy from waste' plant will generate enough energy to power a town twice the size of King's Lynn.

He continued: 'We are using proven technology and it also has the environmental benefit of diverting waste away from landfill.

'This project is about replacing landfill, not replacing recycling and we believe the two can very much live alongside each other.

'It is going to be a long process and there will be two periods of consultation but hopefully at the end we will become part of the community for the next 25 years.'

Mr Wilkinson added Norfolk's recycling levels will also be boosted by the recovery of around 5,000 tonnes per year of metals.

He also said the production of around 50,000 tonnes of recycled aggregates every year at the facility will also offer an alternative to aggregates dug out from quarries.

A report will be published later this week which will explain the proposal and identify some of the key issues. The report can be found at www.willowsprc.co.uk.