CAMPAIGNERS are preparing to do battle today against controversial plans for a multi-million pound incinerator – just a day after protesters elsewhere were told plans to burn domestic rubbish near their homes had been dropped.

The long-awaited public inquiry into an incinerator in Cornwall was due to begin this morning.

Meanwhile, anti-incinerator campaigners in Devon are celebrating after last night hearing a waste firm had dropped plans to burn domestic rubbish in Ernesettle, Plymouth.

Today's inquiry over the border will examine plans by French-owned Sita UK which was awarded a 30-year, £427 million waste management contract by the former county council in 2006.

Sita had planned a single incinerator, with a 390ft chimney, to burn 240,000 tonnes of waste a year, converting it into electricity and heat to power 21,000 homes.

Those proposals were rejected by the county council last year March with Sita announcing its decision to appeal in September.

The seven-week long inquiry was due to begin at Kingsley Village, Fraddon, Mid-Cornwall, today.

Opening statements were expected from a number of interested parties including the appellant Sita UK, the planning authority Cornwall Council, St Dennis Parish Council and the St Dennis Anti Incinerator Group (STIG).

In Devon, MVV Umwelt dropped its plans for Ernesettle to instead concentrate efforts on a plan for an energy from waste plant at Devonport Dockyard's North Yard after fierce opposition.

Geraldine Lane, chairman of the anti-incinerator group Stifle, said: "This is really good news for the greenfield site at Ernesettle, but in terms of those of us who don't want an incinerator at all it remains a problem.

"I know the community would really like to have the land returned as a sports facility, or perhaps used as a nature walk or a park.

"I don't see a problem with having an area recycling facility there, because Plymouth is desperately short of recycling."

The decision leaves only two sites in the running to handle domestic waste for Plymouth, Torbay and South Devon.

The planned £100 million incinerator is being commissioned for the South West Devon Waste Partnership, which includes Plymouth City Council.

A second waste firm, Viridor, has already submitted a planning application for an incinerator at New England Quarry, south of Lee Mill.

Viridor has said it might plough ahead, regardless of the eventual outcome of the bidding process. The preferred bidder is due to be announced early in 2011.

Paul Carey, managing director of MVV Environment, MVV Umwelt's UK subsidiary, said: "North Yard offers many environmental and economic advantages over Ernesettle."

He said they had agreement in principle to provide steam and electricity to the naval base.

MVV is refining its proposal for the North Yard site, which is in the Weston Mill area bordering Blackies Wood.

Gary Streeter, Conservative MP for South West Devon, said the decision was not unexpected.

He said: "North Yard has a lot going for it, not least its proximity to commercial buildings and ease of access from the Parkway through Camel's Head.

"I am hoping we can persuade the waste partnership that Lee Mill isn't suitable."