A benefits scheme that will see £150,000 given to community projects if plans to build a giant incinerator in Rookery Pit go ahead has been branded as an "insult".

Covanta Energy announ-ced this week that it will create a community trust fund of £150,000, with another £50,000 paid in each year, if it is given permission to build the controversial plant at the Stewartby site.

The American company is also proposing a 10 per cent rebate on future electricity bills to 8,500 homes in Millbrook, Stewartby, Marst-on Moretaine, Houghton Conquest, Lidlington, Amp-thill and Wootton.

But residents' action group Our Marston Vale has dismissed the benefit scheme as "pathetic".

Chairman David Cooper said: "It's absolutely insult-ing to suggest a figure of £150,000 will assuage the feeling of residents about having this plant in their back garden.

"I suggest it should be more in the region of £10 million.

"£150,000 is pathetic, what is that going to buy the thousands of homes directly affected by this thing?"

Covanta has also revised the size of the 585,000 tonne incinerator, lowering the main building by seven metres and shortening the chimney stack to 105 metres, which would mean it will only stand 25 metres higher than the current Stewartby brickworks chimney.

If you'd like to see the latest proposals in more detail, the plans will be on view at Millbrook Village Hall on Saturday, March 6, Marston Moretaine Village Hall on Friday, March 12, Houghton Conquest Village Hall on March 13, Parkside Hall in Ampthill on March 14 and Stewartby Village Hall on March 20.

Covanta managing director Malcolm Chilton said: "Covanta is committed to keeping local residents, Beds authorities and interest groups informed of progress on our plans to build a resource recovery facility.

"It's very important to hear what people say about the designs for the facility, the proposals for community benefits and are able to give us their feedback."