FEARFUL neighbours are waiting to learn if slaughtered animals, the tragic toll of the foot and mouth crisis, are to be be buried 'on their doorstep' despite strong opposition from St Helens Council, local farmers, police and the owners of the site.

Neighbours in Lea Green area received a letter from landfill site owners 'Cory Environmental' warning that a landfill site on Lea Green Road may be used as a burial ground for animal carcasses.

The site, which is currently used for the tipping of domestic waste, has been approved by the Environmental Agency and meets the required specifications to qualify as a potential site for the burial of:

'non-infected sheep and pig carcasses after pre-emptive culling, designed to stop the spread of the disease.'

As a result, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has added the site to a list of over 100 potential burial sites nationwide that may be used for the dumping of animal carcasses, should destruction reach emergency levels. But a spokesperson for Cory Environmental has stressed that the site will only by used in extreme emergency, following orders from the Secretary of State or MAFF. He said: "Our company is continually monitoring the situation and we are currently not accepting any carcasses for the landfill site and an order has not been received from the government or MAFF to use the site. Cory Environmental is not expecting to receive an order and we will attempt to resist any attempts by MAFF to use the site."

Cory Environmental added that should requests be made by MAFF to use the Lea Green Road site, then they would be obliged to comply with the decision and said that the matter would no longer be in their hands.

Harry Taylor, who is liaising between his neighbours and Cory Environmental says that local residents are in agreement with the site owners in opposing the proposed dumping. "The general feeling here is one of objection and we are working together with Cory Environmental to try and stop the site being used for animal carcasses. This is a well managed site and I think that's why it has been chosen."

His views were echoed by Joseph O'Brien from Farndon Avenue, who first informed the St Helens Star of the proposals. Mr O' Brien said: "We all feel extremely let down because when the site first opened we were guaranteed that it would only be used for domestic waste... it would be unbearable if they started to use it for carcasses."

St Helens Council have said that they were approached by MAFF a number of weeks ago to become one of 65 designated potential dumping sites across the country and strongly opposed the proposals and since then have not been officially informed that they are on the list.

Council Leader Marie Rimmer said: "We are totally against this proposal and have very convincing reasons for this. The site is close to housing estates with more than 5,000 residents. In addition, the immediate area is the subject of a bid for Objective 1 finance, bringing with it the prospect of up to 3,000 new jobs. Because of this the surrounding area has been cleared and prepared for that purpose and use of the site in this way would have a serious 'knock-on' effect on our economy."

Merseyside Police, who are also opposed to the proposal, say that farmers in the area would see the move as potentially bringing the disease into the currently foot and mouth free area. The use of the site, they added, could also lead to significant public reaction putting a huge strain on police resources.

But the MAFF have confirmed that the site at Lea Green is on the list of potential sites, which may be used as a back up if the crisis makes a come back. And a spokesperson added: "We shouldn't have to use the site in St Helens because the number of confirmed foot and mouth cases are reducing every day, but we need to have the infrastructure if there is a demand to dispose of a huge number of carcasses. Although the site on Lea Green Road has been identified as a suitable location to dispose of animal carcasses, there is currently no demand to do so because there aren't any cases of foot and mouth in the Merseyside area."