A SCHEME to build an energy-from-waste plant between South Molton and Tiverton has been backed by councillors.

A planning application to build the Tiverton Energy Centre plant at Gibbet Moor Farm near Rackenford, just off the A361 link road was scrutinised by Tiverton town councillors at a meeting.

There was strong support for the construction of the £25 million plant, which would use food and animal waste to generate electricity.

Councillors at the meeting described the plant as an "excellent idea" though some concerns about increased traffic were raised.

The plans include improvements to the nearest junction on the A361 to give heavy vehicles extra room to manoeuvre.

Cllr Elaine Trump, chairman of the planning committee, recognised the traffic issue but said the applicants' report forecast only a moderate increase.

She said: "The predicted vehicle movement is only another 37 daily vehicles via the A361, which is the main road, so they are obviously telling people not to take lorries on the old Rackenford Road.

"There will be bigger vehicles, but they are on the link road.

"We are totally in favour of this and we support it to the full."

The firm behind the project, Greener For Life, headed by farmer Winston Reed, commissioned Somerset's Aardvark Environment Matters Ltd to produce a planning statement on the scheme.

The report states the electricity output from the proposed AD plant would be capable of supplying between 3,500 and 5,500 homes depending on its eventual size.

The town council's recommendation will be referred to Devon County Council, which determines all planning applications for minerals-related or waste management development in the county.

The consultation period, during which people can comment on the proposed scheme, expires in a week but the planning department can continue to accept submissions after this date. The plans can be viewed at www.devon.gov.uk