Call for Bishop's Castle biomass plant site sale to be reopened

Campaigners today called for the sale of the site of the proposed £5 million biomass plant in Bishop's Castle to be reopened to other buyers if developers cannot agree a deal with council chiefs soon.

Members of Bishop's Castle Group lost a three-year battle to block a planning bid for the plant last year.

But now group leaders are urging Shropshire Council to allow other firms to bid for the 2.5-acre site at Bishop's Castle Business Park, where no construction work has taken place since planning permission was granted last December.

Karen Bavastock, chairman of the Bishop's Castle Group, has written an open letter to candidates in the forthcoming by-election.

Andrew Stirling, Shropshire Council's facilities group project manager, said: "Shropshire Council is continuing in negotiations with the prospective purchaser and is unable to comment any further at this time."

Chris Day of Bishop's Castle Biomass Power Limited said negotiations with Shropshire Council were ongoing but declined to comment further.