Plans for a controversial biomass plant in West Thurrock are to go ahead after the Secretary of State approved the company’s appeal.

Over 400 residents objected to the wood-burning waste plant next to the Procter and Gamble factory on Wouldham Road in a long and bitter fight last year.

Documents at last night’s council planning meeting revealed the Secretary of State had overturned Thurrock Council’s decision on August 23.

Thurrock councillors threw the application out at a planning meeting last October, but consortium Procter and Gamble, Balfour Beatty and Nexterra appealed in February.

In the documents last night, planning officers wrote: “The Inspector considered the main issue to be the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area.

“The Inspector also considered there to be significant benefits arising both from the generation of renewable energy and from the sustainable management of waste.”

Residents, who raised written objections last year on the council planning portal about pollution, traffic, health and safety and effect on house prices, called for a boycott of Procter and Gamble’s products.

Writing on the Fiddlers’ Reach Biomass Facebook page, Sara Santiano said: “Now we're going to be sandwiched between two polluting monstrosities. I can't believe our health and safety concerns have not been taken into consideration at all. Procter and Gamble needs to be boycotted now!”

Joyce Guest wrote: “Absolutely astonishing! In my heart I guessed this would happen. It's little us against an enormous company. Who’s going to listen to us? The thing is it's going to affect all of Thurrock and even across the water in Kent with more pollution but what do the big guns care about that. Let's pray it doesn't explode like the other one did in America!”

Organisation Biofuelwatch said residents’ objections had been “ignored.”

She said: “I was shocked by the decision. The only option residents have now is a Judicial Cost Review which residents would have to pay for themselves, and can cost up to £40,000.”

“Actually the main hope I have is that investors will look at the evidence in this case with health and safety and be put off.”

A spokesman for Procter & Gamble said: "We strongly believe in making our operations as sustainable as possible. The decision in favour of the Renewable Energy Plant will help us to protect the environment we operate in and protect and grow employment in Thurrock. 

"As part of P&G’s London Site Sustainability Project, the plant will generate enough power to supply our manufacturing operations throughout the year."

Thurrock Council have been contacted for comment.