OPPONENTS of a scheme to build a £135 million waste to energy plant in Keighley have met to discuss the future of their campaign.

People involved with the Aire Valley Against Incineration group gathered to voice their continued objection to council-approved plans to develop the facility at Marley.

Group spokesman and Marley resident, Jane Stone, said she and the other opponents remain deeply concerned about how much CO2 will be emitted by the plant once it begins operating.

"We think Bradford Council needs to think again about this," she added.

"In Europe, they are moving away from using incinerators.

"We are going to write to various MPs and councillors to try and make sure emissions are independently monitored, and to ensure data on these emissions is put in the public domain. We're going to get MEPs involved, too."

Mrs Stone said about 13 people attended the meeting.

She claims the new plant would have a hugely negative visual impact on the Aire Valley.

She also argued it would make little contribution to local employment, as most of the jobs created would be staffed by people brought in from outside the Keighley area.

The agent for the firm aiming to develop the plant confirmed last month that all planning conditions required to allow building to start have now been met.

Jo Steel, of JO Steel Consulting, said amendments to the proposals for the plant – on the site of the former gasworks at Marley – had been approved by Bradford Council officers.

Mrs Stone said when the applicant proposed a different design for the plant last year, this was rejected by the council's planning committee following massive opposition.

But she said the company had since altered its plans at officer level, without needing a debate in public.

The council said the planning application had been fully advertised before a decision was made, and at no stage had any ruling been taken by just one officer.

Original plans for the scheme were approved in April, 2014.

A date for construction work to begin on the project, which could create 500 jobs, is yet to be announced.