A PROPOSAL for a power plant that would turn vegetable oil into energy was thrown out by Newport councillors yesterday.

Newport company Vo-Gen Energy wanted to build and operate a facility in Alexandra Docks which could supply electricity to about 60,000 households in the city.

A campaign was launched against the project and an 800-signature petition was handed in yesterday.

Concerns ranged from the effects the plant would have locally as well as the potential impact much further afield to the climate and rainforests.

Protestors listening to the debate at the planning meeting cheered impassioned speeches against the proposal including those from Ian Lander, of Biofuelwatch, and Pill Cllr Ibrahim Hayat.

Harvey West, chief executive of Vo-gen, gave reassurances that they would almost certainly use oil from UK suppliers and, if it did come from outside the EU, it would be from sustainable sources.

He added it would be built on a brownfield site, in an industrial area and away from houses.

Planning officers recommended approval after receiving no objections from statutory consultees such as the Environment Agency and the Countryside Council of Wales.

But a majority of councillors agreed to refuse permission because of health concerns and they felt it was an over-development of this type of facility in the Pill area.

A bio-mass plant and another that will turn waste into energy already have permission to open in the Docks.

After the meeting an emotional Mr Lander welcomed the committee's decision.

Mr West said they would be looking at their options including resubmitting the plans if the council felt more information was needed.

"If there is no further information required then we will have to go down the appeal road because at the end of the day it is a good project."