Bishop's Castle biomass plant could open within two years

Officials behind plans for a £5 million biomass plant in a south Shropshire town have claimed their facility could be up and running within two years after land was set aside for the scheme.

Directors at Bishop's Castle Biomass Power said the decision by Shropshire Council's cabinet to sell land at Bishop's Castle Business Park for the burner was a "good day" for renewable energy projects in Britain.

They have also said the plant will create jobs and provide electricity for homes and schools.

Cabinet members yesterday upheld their decision of August 4 to provisionally sell the land at the business park, despite widespread objections from hundreds of local residents.

More than 130 people from Bishop's Castle had attended the meeting at Shirehall hoping to see the decision reversed so alternatives such as a community care farm could be considered. Campaigners will consider their next move over the next few days.

Planning permission for the plant was granted on appeal by an independent planning inspector following a public inquiry last year.

Richard Cooke, director of Bishop's Castle Biomass Power, said: "We are very pleased and this is a good day for renewable energy projects in general and this one on particular.

"This decision has been a long time in coming but there is still more work to be done and we have negotiations to complete with Shropshire Council.

"This will provide jobs at a time of economic recession and it will provide an appropriate amount of renewable electricity for the town and green heat.

"We think people will understand it's a good project, and we think it will become clear there's nothing to fear from it."

Jim Gaffney, a member of Bishop's Castle Town Council, said: "It feels like we've been stitched up. I'm absolutely furious."

Michael Dawes, a planning consultant who has undertaken hours of research on the biomass issue, said: "There's a clear indication that minds had been made up in an orchestrated manner before the meeting started, and it was no better than a pantomime. It's a very bad day for local democracy."

Councillor Mike Owen, Shropshire Council's portfolio holder for economy and waste, said the process had been an "open" one.

He said: "I do not think the people of Bishop's Castle will take this lying down. But I hope that in time they will appreciate the benefits of the plant and live with it."

By Peter Kitchen