Fresh debate on Bishop's Castle biomass plan

A fresh debate is to be held next month over plans to build a £5 million biomass plant in Shropshire.

It comes after almost 1,500 people signed a petition opposing the controversial scheme in Bishop's Castle.

Richard Thomas, democratic services manager at Shropshire Council, said: "I can confirm that the petition has been verified and that it will be included on the agenda for the next meeting on December 9."

Members of the campaigning Bishop's Castle Group, which organised the petition, are now lining up a number of speakers for the December 9 meeting in a last-ditch attempt to stop the burner being built.

Shropshire Council had said that if the petition had more than 1,000 verifiable signatures the matter would go on the next council meeting agenda.

It was launched after the council's cabinet upheld a decision to sell land at Bishop's Castle Business Park to Bishop's Castle Biomass Power Ltd despite huge opposition.