PLANS for a giant slurry lagoon are being fought by councillors.

Waste management company Agrivert wants to create the basin, measuring 172m by 60m, in Yarnton to store fertiliser created by food waste from homes in Oxfordshire.

At the moment it is being stored in containers on site before being distributed.

But Cherwell District Council is urging the county council to block the scheme, at Worton Farm, claiming it would harm the Green Belt, impact on local wildlife and smell bad.

A £9m anaerobic digester was opened at the site in October to turn waste food into enough energy for up to 4,500 homes.

But Cherwell’s planning committee believes the proposed lagoon is too close to Pixey and Yarnton Meads, and Cassington Meadows, both sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSI).

Their report says: “The proposal is considered to be an inappropriate development in the Oxford Green Belt, which will harm its visual amenities and openness.

“Some concerns have been raised about the possible impacts on the adjacent waterbodies given their wildlife value.

“Potential ecological effects outside this are not mentioned and there will be some loss of habitat on site for which the suggestions for planting will go some way to mitigate.

“There is a possibility that reptiles or amphibians may be on site so precautions should be taken to ensure they are not harmed during any works.”

The report added the lagoon could also lead to “odour generation”.

The fertiliser is a by-product of the anaerobic digestion process at the three-acre site, which is based near the A40. Renewable energy generated by the 4.5 million cubic metres of methane expected to be released each year at the site will be fed into the National Grid.

Agrivert commercial director Harry Waters insisted the scheme was ecologically sound.

He said: “I am staggered that Cherwell councillors have objected to the scheme without discussing their concerns with us.

“So far the digester has been very successful and has caused no problems for residents. It also replaced the noisy and dusty process used before. The fertiliser is pretty much odourless when it has been processed and helps replace chemical fertilisers being used in agriculture.

“It is very good for wildlife and encourages micro-biology in the ground, attracting insects, worms and birds.

“This is much more of a farming operation than a waste operation and will help protect the green belt in the long term.”

A decision is expected to be made by Oxfordshire County Council next month.