Polarising plans to build a plant which will incinerate the area's rubbish and convert it into energy could be given the go ahead next week.

Sutton Council's development control committee will decide whether to grant planning permission to waste control company Viridor to build an energy recovery facility in Beddington Lane on Wednesday, May 15.

The committee was set to make a ruling on the application last month but the decision was deferred after vote was tied following almost three hours of debate.

Viridor has been contracted to dispose of waste for the South London Waste Partnership, made up of Sutton, Croydon, Kingston and Merton councils.

It wants to do this by building the plant, which will take non-recyclable waste from the four boroughs and burn it to produce energy for the national grid and heating for nearby homes.

Opponents of the plan, including campaign group Stop the Incinerator, say the proposed facility will emit harmful dioxins which could be harmful and lower fertility rates.

Viridor denies the claims and says pollution from the ERF would be negligible.

Your Local Guardian: How the incinerator would look from Beddington Lane

How the incinerator would look from Beddington Lane

The council's planning officers have advised councillors on the committee to give the application planning permission. they say there is no reason to decline it on the grounds of emissions or the effect it will have on traffic in the area.

Last month the panel was evenly split with three councillors voting in favour of the plan - Liberal Democrats Mary Burstow, Stanley Theed and John Leech - and three councillors voting against - Conservatives Graham Whitham and Eric Allen and Lib Dem Stephen Fenwick.

Lib Dems Monica Coleman and Margaret Court abstained.

Chairman of the panel, Coun John Leech, opted against using his deciding vote and Coun Coleman moved a motion that the decision be deferred.

More than 100 campaigners against the ERF attended the meeting and cheered loudly at the deferral.

The next meeting will be held in the Europa Gallery at Sutton library in St Nicholas Way from 8pm on Wednesday, May 15. Members of the public are welcome to attend.