MORECAMBE MP Geraldine Smith has hit out at plans for a waste recycling plant in Middleton - and wants county councillors to think again.

Residents packed out a public meeting on Monday night to argue against the plans.

And they have the full support of Ms Smith, who believes the whole idea is flawed.

"There is no access road from the bypass to the site according to the planning application," says Ms Smith.

"But the county council officers said they would add the roads to the plans - I don't think that's right and the plans should be withdrawn and re-submitted."

The MP has mixed feelings about the site despite admitting that a recycling centre is needed.

She says: "We cannot use landfill sites for ever so we need alternatives and recycling plants are an alternative, although they are never going to be popular.

"It is only natural for people to have serious concerns and I do not think the consultation process was carried out as well as it could have been. I think some of it has been neglected

"There is a feeling that this has crept through the back door and I think it appears to have been sorted out between officers. The consultation has not been what I would have hoped for and the residents I spoke to are understandably concerned.

"This plant will apparently be the first of its kind - so people need reassuring over the matter."