PLANS to turn waste into electrical power are to go before the public later this month, in a bid to allay local peoples' fears.

The proposal to build a gas-powered electricity generating station at a landfill site on the edge of the North York Moors, is due to go before councillors next Thursday.

On Monday, the company behind the scheme is to hold a public meeting at Thornton-le-Dale near Pickering to let local residents put their questions.

The Caulklands waste site is owned by Yorwaste, the Northallerton-based company responsible for the disposal of most domestic and business waste in the county.

It wants to build a £300,000 generating plant that would use methane gas from the landfill to create so-called "green" electricity for the area.

The company claims the move will help the local community by producing electricity from a non-fossil fuel and help the environment by dealing with landfill gases in an environmentally-friendly way.

Similar plants are already operating at two other Yorwaste sites - Seamer Carr near Scarborough and Harewood Whin, near York.

The company's waste strategy and contracts manager, Tom Sharkey, said it wanted to listen to people's views and outline the benefits of the scheme.

"Because local people have found it difficult to get information about our plans, we welcome the public meeting and have even suggested the North York Moors Park Authority defers its decision until everyone has been consulted," he said.

"We are confident that when they have all the information, residents will realise the benefits the station will have."

The Salford-based power firm Natural Power has submitted a planning application on behalf of Yorwaste, and both companies will be represented at the meeting, along with people from the National Park Authority, the district council and the Environment Agency.

Yorwaste has also made a commitment to attempt to establish a liaison group, which will keep residents informed about the plans at all stages.

The public meeting will be held in the Old Grammar School, in Chestnut Avenue, Thornton-le-Dale. It will start at 7pm.