Bishop's Castle biomass plans to be reconsidered

A CONTROVERSIAL decision to set aside land for a multi-million pound biomass plant in a south Shropshire town will have to be reconsidered - to the joy of hundreds of residents.

Members of Shropshire Council's development service scrutiny committee received a standing ovation from residents last night as they unanimously agreed to ask cabinet members to rethink their decision.

On August 4, the council's cabinet committee agreed to provisionally accept an offer from Bishop's Castle Biomass Power for the site at the town's business park.

They also called for the tendering process to be reopened to allow a number of other proposals for the site - including plans by Bishop's Castle Wasteless Society to create a community care farm - to be put forward.

More than 300 people packed into the hall at Bishop's Castle Community College for last night's meeting to voice their objections to the wood chip burning plant planned for land on the town's business park.

The meeting was delayed to allow 50 people stuck outside to enter the hall - and the crowd greeted the committee's decision with lengthy applause and cheering.

Councillor Alan Mosley, chairman of the scrutiny committee, said the decision had been unanimous and listed six reasons behind their recommendation. These included the "massive weight" of public opposition, fears of potential health hazards and the short length of the initial tendering process earlier in the year.

Councillors also felt too little attention had been given to alternative uses for the site and felt that the decision contradicted the authority's sustainable community strategy and tendering guidelines. The initial decision had been called in by the Liberal Democrat group on Shropshire Council, and local campaigners said the latest development was a victory for common sense.

Councillor Nigel Hartin, leader of the Liberal Democrat group, said: "I'm really pleased - this sends a clear message to cabinet that they ignore public opinion and go against their own strategy at serious risk."

Michael Dawes, a Bishop's Castle resident with a background in planning, said: "It's the first time in three years we have had a fair and reasonable hearing from local government which is incredibly refreshing - it's common sense at last."

Karen Bavastock, chairman of the Bishop's Castle Group, said: "We're very pleased."

Peter Phillips, Shropshire councillor for Bishop's Castle, said: "Members of the committee have responded to the overwhelming strength of local opinion."

Councillor Mosley said: "The turnout was astonishing for a relatively small town.

"This matter will now be discussed again by the town council on the back of the strong and unanimous decision of the scrutiny committee."