Shropshire firm's digester plan to ease electricity drought

Grocontinental has submitted plans for an anaerobic digestion plant opposite its site in Whitchurch.

It would generate electricity and heat using agricultural crops from the area, including maize and imported food waste.

Grocontinental says the plant will produce a source of renewable energy and reduce its reliance on mains power.

A lack of power in Whitchurch has in recent years been blamed for job losses in the town, with companies such as Tension Control Bolts leaving in November in a search for better power.

But Grocontinental's plans have met public opposition with 12 people opposing the development on Shropshire Council's website.

Their concerns include an increase in odour, noise and traffic on the A525.

Keith Robinson, a nearby resident, said: "Having the anaerobic digestion plant across the road will add to our misery. We have the added traffic noise,and the smell that comes with the plant.

"We have already been overrun with rats because of the building that's going on at the moment and I fear that this will increase with the plant across the road.

"There has been a number road traffic collisions on that part of the bypass since we have lived there and fear the added traffic turning into the plant there will be more."

However, there have been some public comments in favour of the application.

Paul Davies, writing on the council's website, said: "What a sensible solution to the town's current power drought and the exodus of jobs this is causing. With the planned increase in housing and the subsequent employment and power demands this will cause, the town is desperately short of power and this is the only proposition anybody has put forward."

The plans will go before the council's planning committee in June.

Grocontinental, which employs over 350 people, is one of the largest storage and distribution companies in Shropshire, and its 30 acre Whitchurch site hosts 143,000 pallet spaces and sees 5,000 daily pallet movements.

Managing director David Grocott said: "The planning application is at a very early stage. We will be staging a public exhibition in the coming weeks for local people to find out more about the project and for us to address any concerns they may have. This is an exciting and innovative long-term energy project that will cement further the continuing growth strategy for our company."

In its planning statement the company said: "Any electricity not utilised will be fed into the National Grid.This will contribute to alleviate problems with power supply around the Whitchurch area giving wider economic benefits."