ALTERNATIVES to a waste dump in Middlewich should be considered before the final decision is made, according to a county councillor.

Clr Dave Sutton has called for bosses at Cheshire County Council to consider all available methods of waste disposal before deciding on a course of action for a landfill site at Kinderton Lodge, proposed by The Banks Group.

Clr Sutton said: "There are other companies with different methods of disposing of waste that we should consider.

"In the county structure plan a landfill is the last option.

"There is time to look at other options and so we cannot make a decision yet when there are other potential methods of disposing of Cheshire's waste."

A number of companies have approached the county council with different methods of disposing the waste including processing the waste into compost.

Clr Sutton believes they should be thoroughly investigated as a viable option and said the landfill site at Maw Green in Crewe that is currently used for Cheshire's waste is not due to close until 2010, leaving plenty of time to consider other options.

A county council spokesperson said: "We would welcome applications from any company or individual presenting a prospective waste management solution.

"As with any planning application these will be assessed on their individual merits."

The spokesperson added that the Banks Group application is currently in a consultation period and the county council is accepting letters of objections or support for it.

Once they have all been received the application will be assessed by the development regulatory committee, but not before November.

Clr Sutton added: "It is not just that people do not want the landfill site in their own back yard.

"We don't want them anywhere, so it is important to try and find other waste disposal solutions."

jdriscoll@guardiangrp.co.uk