GREEN campaigners have issued a final plea to York city councillors asking them to reject a multi-million pound waste incinerator deal.

YRAIN - York Residents Against Incineration - have sent a briefing to all 46 members of the council outlining their concerns about the Allerton Park waste incinerator project, which is set to get final approval at a council meeting on Thursday.

Campaigners say the £254 million plant is "poorer value" and "more unnecessary" than ever, as well as being deeply unpopular and bad for climate change targets, and would swallow up money that could be spent on front-line public services.

The briefing says: "York does not need this incinerator. We have been hogtied to the agenda and needs of NorthYorkshire County Council, whose current disposal contracts end in March 2015 with no option to extend."

It urges councillors to ask several questions before they commit to the scheme - like how much it would cost to pull out, what would happen if York cannot provide its guaranteed minimum tonnage of waste for the incinerator, and why no meaningful alternatives have been explored.

The briefing adds: "Why would you choose to cut youth centres and spending on the maintenance of roads and green spaces when you could save tens of millions with a sane waste strategy?"