Members of People Against Incineration (PAIN) are considering the move against Nottinghamshire County Primary Care Trust (PCT) after bosses said it was not necessary to conduct a detailed assessment of the potential health impact of the facility.

But PAIN members say local people have genuine concerns about the effect on their health if an incinerator is built at the former Rufford Colliery site.

PAIN spokesman Shlomo Dowen told Chad: "People are not only frustrated but also distressed that our health concerns are not being addressed by anybody.

"The PCT is responsible for looking after public health. An incinerator being built in the area is a public health issue. What we are saying is that nobody has done a proper study about the impact locally on health.

'Irrational'

"Even if local people's concerns are irrational, which they are not, it is still the duty of the PCT to properly address the issues raised by local people when it comes to public health. The failing is that they are not doing their job."

Mr Dowen added that the PCT had been unwilling to meet PAIN members to discuss their concerns — so launching legal action could be the only option.

Veolia Environmental Services wants to build the incinerator to burn 180,000 tonnes of waste a year and bosses say there will be no more than a minor effect on health.

But Dr Dick van Steenis, who specialises in fighting against incinerators, claims the facilities cause health problems for those living downwind, including depression, heart attacks and an increase in infant mortality.

A spokesman for the PCT told Chad: "Nottinghamshire County Teaching Primary Care Trust has taken expert advice from the Health Protection Agency and other government agencies in relation to this application and has been in correspondence with the PAIN group.

"All reports confirm that the risks to residents who live near incinerators are exceedingly low and not measurable.

"As we are satisfied that there are no measurable health concerns associated with modern incinerator plants, we have therefore not found it necessary to undertake a detailed local health needs assessment of the potential impact of such an incinerator."

• The next public meeting of PAIN takes place on Friday at Rainworth's Joseph Whitaker School at 6.30pm where Sherwood MP Paddy Tipping will speak. The meeting is expected to be filmed by Channel 4 for a programme about private finance initiative waste contracts.