Firms in Newhaven are being asked to organise their own polls to gauge the extent of workforce opposition towards a waste incinerator in the town.

Residents, town councillors, community leaders, and local MP Norman Baker are all fighting plans to make Newhaven the site for an incinerator to burn East Sussex rubbish.

Now the business community is being asked to firm up its opposition to the idea of having the incinerator on the North Quay.

East and West Sussex County Councils and Brighton and Hove have all voted in favour of Newhaven being the site for the incinerator.

Paradise Park, one of Newhaven's highest profile employers, recently organised a poll among its employees to see the extent of the opposition to the project.

The result of the survey among the 100 full and part time staff at the garden, amusement and exhibition centre was a resounding "No".

This is despite assurances from possible incinerator operators that technology is now so advanced there will be no adverse pollution over the town.

The idea of a survey came from the staff themselves, most of whom live in the Newhaven area.

Russell Whiteside, business development manager at the park, said:: "There is overwhelming opposition to the idea of incinerating waste at Newhaven.

"The management and staff are united against the proposals and I would urge other Newhaven based companies to voice their concerns."

Mr Whiteside spoke for many when he described the current plans as short-sighted and pointed to health fears among local people.

"Both my daughter and myself who live near the proposed plant suffer from asthma and many like us in Newhaven fear for our future health as asthma and bronchitis are no longer uncommon.

"Paradise Park welcomes hundreds of thousands of children every year and we are concerned over the possible effects to our business if there is an incinerator within sight of the park.

"Newhaven is a great place for families to visit and should not be blighted by a few short-sighted and misinformed politicians."