Fears about the possible health effects of incineration have been "brutally ignored" in council waste plans, a public inquiry has been told.

Lewes MP Norman Baker said East Sussex County Council and Brighton and Hove City Council decided to include a burner in the plans at least as early as 1999.

He told the hearing the proposals had been driven by incineration, and the councils had not paid enough attention to alternatives such as increased recycling.

There had been more than 10,000 objections to building at North Quay, Newhaven, during consultation, and an independent waste forum had ruled out large burners.

He said the possible health risks of incineration were the greatest worry among people living near the proposed site, and in surrounding towns and villages.

The concern was mirrored by the Sussex Downs and Weald Primary Care Trust, which said scientific evidence was incomplete but emissions contained known carcinogens and toxic particles that could be deposited on surrounding land and ingested or inhaled.

The inquiry is examining waste plans that identify North Quay and Mountfield Mine, near Robertsbridge, as potential incinerator sites.

Both councils have already signed a £1 billion waste disposal deal with contractor Onyx Aurora, which proposes building a single burner at North Quay.

Mr Baker said: "It is a matter of record the councils decided to enter into a contract with Onyx to provide an incinerator before this public inquiry even began.

"While I accept that is not currently illegal, it reinforces the view the councils had decided what they wanted to do.

"I am afraid I regard the plan as unambitious, out of line with the waste hierarchy, inconsistent with past court rulings and environmentally depressing.

"Most of all, I am disgusted that the overwhelming views of the people of my constituency ... expressed clearly, consistently and articulately, can be so brutally ignored."

The councils said there had been a thorough consultation, the plans were not being driven by incineration and Onyx Aurora would still need planning consent to build at Newhaven.

County council environment director Bob Wilkins said: "The amount of waste produced is growing astronomically and it would be irresponsible for us to ignore this."

The councils intend to present evidence on health risks later.