Chicken waste power plant kicks up a stink in Whitchurch
Chicken waste will be used for a new power plant that could be built in the Shropshire countryside, it was revealed today.
The development is the latest put forward for a green field site in the north of the county.
The anaerobic digestion plant on Lower Heath Farm, near Whitchurch, would create renewable heat and electricity.
But it has already raised concerns that its scale may be out of keeping with the area as well as the impact of traffic travelling to and from the plant.
Plans have been submitted to Shropshire Council for the project, which would include using chicken waste from an existing poultry business as fuel.
It comes more than a year after a controversial scheme for an anaerobic digestion plant put forward by Grocontinental in Whitchurch was given approval.
Other plants have been given permission in Woodseaves near Market Drayton and Wem. They are part of a trend across the county for smaller power plants that fuel existing farms and businesses as well as provide electricity to the National Grid.
The latest plant will feature a number of storage tanks, a store to keep the manure, associated buildings and infrastructure to connect the plant to the National Grid.
Initial ideas for the bio-plant were outlined by a planning agent to Prees Parish Council at a meeting at the end of last year and a full application was this week submitted to Shropshire Council.
Paul Gill, chairman of Prees Parish Council, which has yet to vote on the application, said the main concerns for local people will be vehicle movements, storage and the height of the building.
Documents submitted in support of the applicant Thornfield 002 Ltd say the plant is expected to operate on a "continuous basis" for around 8,000 hours a year.
Manure will be used as fuel, supplemented by locally grown farm crops.
It says the electricity generated will be used on site at the farm with any surplus being fed into the National Grid. The plant will only stop operating when maintenance is needed.
The operation is expected to create employment for one full-time equivalent person, who will work between 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, and from 8am to 12.30pm on Saturdays.
Existing Lower Heath Farm staff will provide back up support on site seven days a week to oversee the operation of the plant and processes.
People can comment on the scheme via the Shropshire Council website. A decision is expected to be made on the schme by the council in the next few weeks.
