A date has been set for a High Court hearing that will decide the fate of plans to build a controversial incinerator on a nature reserve.

Sutton Council and London mayor Boris Johnson gave the go-ahead to plans to build an energy recovery facility on land off Lane last year.

But the plans have met opposition from environmental campaigner Shasha Khan who has secured a court hearing, known as a judicial review, that will decide whether the decision to grant planning permission was correct.

The judicial review will take place at the Royal Courts of Justice on October 9 and 10 and will explore whether Sutton Council's decision to sign a contract with incinerator developer Viridor prior to planning permission being granted affected its decision.

Your Local Guardian: How the proposed incinerator could look by night

How the incinerator will look at night

The process is not cheap and Mr Khan and his legal team, led by Ed Miliband's wife Justine Thornton, estimate the cost of getting the case to court and the resulting hearing will be over £22,000.

Mr Khan said: "Naturally, I am feeling anxious about how much is needed, but new donations are coming in daily through the crowd funding site, bank transfers and cheques so I am hopeful the money can be raised. 

"Many thought the campaign couldn’t get this far, but there is a belief that justice is on the side of the people, especially when High Court judge Mr Justice Collins, when granting permission, observed that the possible conflict of interest for Sutton Council, "is all too obvious".

"By the same token, it is important the campaign is not priced out of justice.

"I hope people will continue donate and join me and fellow Stop The Incinerator campaigners outside the Royal Courts in early October."

Donations can be made via stoptheincinerator.co.uk and cheques payable to Mr S.I Khan can be sent to Stop the Incinerator, c/o 97 Priory Road, Croydon, CR0 3QZ.