A LARGE area of land to the south of Lydney could be used for waste disposal purposes under the county's new Waste Local Draft Plan which has just been placed on deposit.

The land lies on the opposite side of the Lydney bypass from the town's cemetery and is adjacent to industrial units and the Royal Mail sorting office.

It is being proposed as a possible site for as-yet undisclosed waste disposal uses – the plan's authors emphasising that this opens the way for proposals such as recycling and composting facilities from the private sector.

A spokesman for the planning department said: "The proposals are now open for public comment. The land in question has already been identified as having potential for industrial development."

In addition a large site bordered by the railway main line, the canal and the existing industrial area off Harbour Road, Lydney, is similarly earmarked. A corner of this area is already in use as a landfill facility for inert waste.

In notes on the proposals the draft deposit states any facility to the south of the town would have a "high visual impact on Lydney Park Estate setting".

It also states: "Direct access from either the bypass or A48 (T) would be precluded – the site should be served by an extension to the existing adopted highway known as Mead Lane."

And it adds: "Evidence of Roman land reclamation and medieval field systems are found in this area. Depending on the precise location and extent of development proposals, archaeological evaluation may be needed in order to identify the impact of the development."

The plan, which also proposes using land between Cinderford's cricket ground and Steam Mills for waste disposal, aims to fulfil new strategy to treat waste as near to its source as possible without "exporting" the problems it causes.

And it emphasises a shift of thinking from treating waste material as a problem to regarding it as a resource, with compost, power generation and useful recycled material as possible spin-offs.

Representations must be submitted by October 26. Copies of the Waste Local Plan can be seen by the public in the Environment Department reception area at Shire Hall, Gloucester, district council offices and libraries. It is also available on the internet on http://www.gloscc">www.gloscc. gov.uk

•The controversial issue of creating a major incineration plant at Sharpness is also raised in the plan, which notes that both Lydney and Sharpness have river docking facilities.