PEOPLE who have been fighting plans for a giant incinerator in Belvedere are breathing a sigh of relief this week.

The new Trade and Industry Secretary, Alan Johnson, has announced he is to reopen the public inquiry into the plans.

There was a 13-week public inquiry in the summer of 2003 into the proposal from Riverside Resource Recovery Ltd (RRRL) to burn up to 800,000 tonnes of London's rubbish on a 22-hectare riverfront site off Norman Road, Belvedere.

The inquiry inspector, Keith Smith, recommended the project should go ahead but a last-minute technicality has meant a reprieve for all those opposed to the scheme.

Since the inquiry closed, the London Plan has been published. It says rubbish should not be transported from one side of London to the other to be disposed of, which is what RRRL proposes to do.

Opponents, who have been fighting incinerator proposals for 14 years, say Mr Johnson's decision will give them another chance to prevent the incinerator from going ahead.

John Austin, MP for the Belvedere area, says he plans to speak at the reconvened inquiry.

He said: "Along with residents, I find the proposal the people of Bexley should have an incinerator on their doorstep which deals with waste from areas of west London, such as Wandsworth and Westminster, totally unacceptable, particularly since they have rejected plans to site it in their own area."

Mr Smith will also chair the new hearings, which will begin on September 6 at the Marriott Hotel, Bexleyheath Broadway, at 10am.

There will be a pre-inquiry meeting on July 18 at the same time and place.

The reconvened inquiry will look at whether RRRL's plans comply with Government policy and the London Plan.

It will also look at the issue of road transport, including the safety of pedestrians and cyclists in Norman Road and water transport, including the safety of people using the Thames.