Campaigners will not bid for biomass site

Campaigners against plans for a £5 million biomass plant in a south Shropshire town will not be putting in a bid to buy the proposed site, which is up for sale.

The Bishop's Castle Group ran a long campaign against the plans which were finally given approval following a planning inquiry last September.

But the applicants, Bishop's Castle Power Limited, had not secured an option to buy the proposed site of the plant and it is now up for sale with the rest of the land at Bishop's Castle Business Park.

Karen Bavastock, chairman of the Bishop's Castle Group, today confirmed the group would not be putting a bid in for the site.

She added: "The Bishop's Castle Group was set up specifically to monitor and decide upon the feasibility and benefits of the biomass plant proposal, which we have strongly opposed and we will remain vigilant whilst we wait to see what happens with the land which is being advertised.

"In time we may need to become active again in terms of ensuring that the land is offered to an appropriate tenant and, should that be the biomass proposal, that all the conditions the group worked to agree are upheld and implemented.

"All I can do after the many hours over the past three years fighting the biomass plans is hope that businesses and people including Shropshire Council support appropriate plans for the site. It is up to the people of Bishop's Castle and surrounding area to come forward with proposals to Shropshire Council for business ventures at the site which are appropriate and would offer employment and other benefits to the town. The deadline for bids is May 7.