Shropshire Council was today asked to review its backing of Veolia’s £60 million plans for an incinerator in Shrewsbury after the firm lost an appeal for a burner in another part of the UK.

Councillor Mal Price said he wanted the authority to seek fresh legal advice in the wake of a decision in Nottinghamshire to throw out an appeal by the waste company for a proposed incinerator there.

A report released by planning inspector Rupert Grantham on Friday recommended Veolia’s proposal to build a plant at an old colliery site in Rainsworth should be turned down.

His report raised concerns about the impact on bird life and said not enough effort had been made to look at alternatives.

Shropshire Council decided to support Veolia’s appeal for its planned burner at Battlefield Enterprise Park after a behind-closed-doors meeting in December.

But Councillor Price, ward member for Battlefield, today said the Nottinghamshire decision would also have implications in Shrewsbury and said the authority’s stance should be reviewed.

He said: “I will be asking the council to review the current process to see whether what we are doing is correct.

“The QC’s decision was that if there was more than a 51 per cent chance of winning on appeal we should support Veolia but, in light of this case, should it be reconsidered?

“The council would have to go back and get legal advice and I think they should do that.”

Dave Green, from Shrewsbury Friends of the Earth, today said the campaign group would welcome a review.

He said: “Certainly we consider there is less than a 51 per cent chance that Veolia will be successful.

“If the council was to seek fresh legal advice we would certainly back that. Veolia should not be dragging us all down this lengthy and expensive process.”

Nobody from Veolia was available to comment today.

Steve Price, group manager for environment at Shropshire Council, said: “I understand that a request from Councillor Mal Price has been received and a response will be considered in due course.”