Protesters are gearing up to take their campaign to block an incinerator from being built to Boris Johnson.

Sutton Council gave planning permission for an energy recovery facility (ERF) to be built in Beddington Lane, on Croydon's border, on Wednesday.

The plant will burn up to 275,000 tonnes of non-recyclable household waste from Sutton, Croydon, Kingston and Merton and convert it into energy. It will replace the existing landfill site which will be converted into a park.

Campaigners are opposed to the plans because they believe the plant will cause pollution which could lead to raised mortality rates - fears the council's planning officers dismissed ahead of last Wednesday's heated meeting.

Councillors were told there were no valid planning grounds on which to turn the application down and several of the committee members admitted they found themselves in an awkward position before voting to give the application planning permission.

Although planning permission was given, London Mayor Boris Johnson could still veto the plan as it falls on metropolitan open land - areas which are set aside for public use.

Just seconds before he voted to approve the planning permission, Coun Leach said: "We are between a rock and a hard place on this matter - we have heard if we refuse the application there will be an appeal.

"There is still the Mayor of London who has to give his permission for the use of metropolitan open land.

"You should organise a very, very major campaign to the mayor of London."

Protest Group Stop the Incinerator has started a petition against the incinerator, which will be delivered to Mr Johnson before he makes a decision, and is distributing letters which people can send to the Mayor's office if they oppose the plans.

The letter concludes: "The proposed site is Metropolitan Open Land, we were promised that it would be returned to the community, a community with a high density of population and few green spaces.

"For all our futures, our community will fight to increase recycling and lobby manufacturers and supermarkets to cut packaging. I do not want my legacy to be a threat to the health and quality of life of family, neighbours and future generations - do you?"

A spokesman for the Mayor of London's office said Mr Johnson would look at evidence from both sides before coming to a decision.

He said: “The Mayor is aware that Sutton Council have approved plans to build a waste facility in Beddington. 

"The comments raised by objectors to date will be taken into account when the time comes for the Mayor to review the application.

"However due to his decision making role in the planning process it would be inappropriate and prejudicial to comment at this point."