A decision on whether or not a controversial incinerator for the area's rubbish can be built in Beddington is expected today.

Sutton Council has given planning permission for an energy recovery facility (ERF) to be built in Beddington Lane but the final decision lies with London Mayor Boris Johnson.

Although Mr Johnson is on leave, his chief of staff Sir Edward Lister is expected to reveal the decision today.

If built, the incinerator will take up to 302,000 tonnes of non-recyclable waste from Sutton, Croydon, Merton and Kingston every year and burn it to create energy that should be distributed to neighbouring homes in the form of heat and electricity.

Campaigners have protested against the plans, which would replace the existing landfill site in Beddington Lane, over fears emissions could harm neighbours' health and that it will be a blot on the landscape.

Labour Greater London Assembly member Fiona Twycross has made a last-ditch attempt to persuade Mr Johnson and Sir Edward to reject the plans. She said: "I met with the mayor’s chief of staff and deputy mayor for planning to issue a final plea on behalf of residents and campaigners from across south London to put a stop to this damaging development.

"We know from experience with incinerators that too often they crowd out recycling and must be constantly fed with feeder material to be kept commercially viable. If that means importing waste from all over southern England, sending lorries down local roads that were never designed for such traffic movements then Londoners will rightly curse the day the mayor approves this scheme. Like other south London residents, I’m now anxiously awaiting to see how the mayor responds."