More opposition is being heaped on plans to fill in one of the last two lakes at Radley near Abingdon with spent fuel ash from Didcot power station.

Abingdon Town Council has joined the Vale of White Horse District Council in opposing the proposals from RWE npower.

But power station manager John Rainford said some accusations being made "ignore simple truths." He asks that people consider the facts and says claims that the ash is "noxious" are untrue.

Abingdon Town Council has written to Oxfordshire County Council "strongly objecting" to constructing a new bunded ash lagoon in Thrupp Lake and working clay from the bottom to form an impermeable lining to the sides.

A letter from the town council's projects and technical officer, Steve Rich, said the site is of county importance to nature conservation. Mr Rich is also concerned about raised bunds reducing the flood plain.

He writes: "It would increase the likelihood and severity of flooding, particularly downstream to Abingdon. Also discharge of water contaminated by ash poses a potential pollution threat to the local groundwater, the Thames, people and wildlife downstream."

Last year RWE npower proposed to fill two lakes, Thrupp and Bullfield, but this year re-drew their plans and dropped the smaller Bullfield lake.

Mr Rainford said ash has been used to fill the former Radley gravel pits for 20 years.

He added: "If the ash was noxious many rare and unusual plants would not grow on the restored parts of the site and animals and birds would not live there."

Mr Rainford said the company had invested £3m in new technology which would allow more recycling but regulations, which RWE npower was lobbying to change, made ash hard to use in the building industry.

Mr Rainford said a flood risk assessment with the Environment Agency found that ash disposals posed no additional flooding risk to the area.

He added: "We are proud of and confident in our proposals especially the extensive ecological restoration. Every effort will be taken to manage the area sensitively and we will also include some public access so that both wildlife and local people can enjoy an area of countryside in the long term."

Objections must be lodged with the county council by April 13 and the application will be heard on May 22.