Power station report threat

A Shropshire campaigner today called for the immediate withdrawal of a top study which clears Ironbridge power station of causing major health problems.

Michael Ryan has given Telford public health boss Dr Catherine Woodward seven days to withdraw the report or, he says, he will report her to the General Medical Council.

But health bosses say the report - drawn up in 2006 and which dismissed claims emissions from Ironbridge Power Station have led to deaths and ill-health - has been fully backed by the borough's primary care trust.

Mr Ryan, of Shrewsbury, makes his call in an e-mail to Dr Woodward, the report's author and who is Telford and Wrekin's director of public health.

He said today that he wanted a new, independent investigation into the issue.

Dr Woodward examined patient data for a 10-year period from four "at risk" electoral wards - Ironbridge Gorge, Woodside, Madeley and Dawley Magna.

She examined causes of death, trends in hospital admission rates for lung disease, deaths from heart attacks, cancer rates, suicide and infant mortality.

Her findings did not support claims by Mr Ryan and fellow campaigner Dr Dick van Steenis that power station emissions were responsible for ill health and deaths within the population of the borough.

But Mr Ryan has now told Dr Woodward that if she doesn't withdraw the report, he will make a formal complaint to the General Medical Council.

He says in his e-mail that he is sure the GMC "will not look favourably" on Dr Woodward's report when it had had an opportunity to examine relevant data, such as 56 infant deaths in "downwind" electoral wards compared with four in "upwind" wards during the nine-year period 1998-2006.

Mr Ryan also alleges there has been a "cluster" of approximately 100 suicides in south & east Telford and mid-Staffordshire that occurred within the downwind zone of Ironbridge power station.

A spokesman for Telford and Wrekin Primary Care Trust said the board had received Dr Woodward's report on May 9 2006.

"The board fully endorsed its contents," he said.

By Health Correspondent Dave Morris