THE preferred sites of two giant waste incinerators for Merseyside have been identified, it emerged last night.

Land within Liverpool council boundaries on the East Lancs road and within Knowsley at the junction of the M57 and M62 motorways are at the top of Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority’s (MWDA) shortlist.

Transport links within the city region were the key to selecting the preferred sites, which are likely to put the MWDA on a collision course with the two councils who will be asked to give the 80,000 sq m units planning permission.

Both Liverpool and Knowsley have previously adopted strongly- worded resolutions barring rubbish burning to reduce our waste mountain.

MWDA has scoured Merseyside and considered thousands of sites to build treatment centres that will process 300,000 tonnes of rubbish each year.

Part of that processing will involve “thermal treatment” of the waste and “energy recovery”. It is understood the waste will be burned and the heat used to generate electricity.

The MWDA says the ideal sites are near where the M57 crosses both the A580 East Lancashire Road and the M62.

 The announcement has caused alarm among councillors, with one labelling the policy statement as “ridiculous and flawed”.

 Cllr Berni Turner, Liverpool’s executive member for the environment, said: “Liverpool City Council as a whole – Liberal Democrat, Labour, Green and Liberal – have said no to incineration, so where does that leave them?”

Cllr Ron Round, leader of Knowsley Council and chair of the city-region’s super cabinet, added: “The statement by MWDA is unhelpful at this time because all sites across Merseyside are being considered in great detail through an agreed process.

“We are nowhere near the point of identifying suitable sites and therefore the MWDA statement is ridiculous and flawed at this stage.”

“It would be helpful if they (MWDA) consulted with the Liverpool City Region districts before making comments like this.”