AN INCINERATOR could cause house prices to fall in Winsford.

Plans have been unveiled to build an incinerator in Lostock, Northwich, and people fear it will also be bad news for Winsford.

Town and borough councillor Malcolm Gaskill said: "The incinerator could mean house prices within a five mile radius will drop by 25 per cent, 10 miles it will drop by 15 per cent and for people living within a 15 mile radius it will be four to five per cent.

"This means it will affect people living in Winsford and all so we can burn other people's waste."

The incinerator, which many people believe would also have serious health risks for residents, would treat up to 350,000 tonnes a year of Cheshire's waste and will generate heat and power by recovering energy from the waste.

Clr Gaskill believes Winsfordians are being punished for recycling.

He said: "We have brilliant recycling figures in Vale Royal and the people are rewarded for this by having an incinerator built here.

"We don't need an incinerator here so you have to start asking yourself why.

"It is all about money.

"There isn't enough waste in Cheshire to keep it going so they will sell the spare capacity to burn other people's waste.

"We are going to make money at the risk of our children's health and if this goes wrong then the damage will be irreversible.

"We can either save £30 on tax each year or have this monstrosity built and if you ask the people of Cheshire I am pretty sure I know what their answer will be.

"I am urging everyone to find out as soon as possible what the councillor for their area feels about the incinerator and if they are in favour of it then what you do is quite simple - don't vote for them."