Objections to planned energy facility near Welshpool

Following a public meeting on Tuesday evening, allowing the area’s residents to have their say on the proposals, the council held an extraordinary meeting to discuss the proposals.

In April, Broad Energy Wales submitted the planning application for an 'Energy Recovery Facility' which could produce enough electricity to power 20,000 homes.

The application is seen as a Development of National Significance (DNS). Because of this the application will be dealt with by government planning inspectors rather than Powys County Council planners.

The 12.8 mega-watt incinerator development includes other infrastructure buildings including a 70-metre-high chimney stack and changes to the roads.

Compelling

A consultation process allows Trewern Community Council to submit its views on the proposal.

Councillor Robin Breakwell said: “I’ve summarised what I’ve heard tonight, there’s 18 pretty compelling arguments against, I don’t think there’s anyone in favour of it.”

Councillor Stephen Novick said: “It’s important to say we’ve had a meeting, the only other thing is the safety of the site, is this potentially a massive disaster waiting to happen?”

He pointed out that that there had been a blaze at a former recycling plant near Telford at the start of the month.

Councillor Sasha Hart said that the council should consider the opinion from Buttington Trewern County Primary School parents.

“The feedback from parents is paramount," she said.

“It’s been difficult that we’ve not been able to protest or get involved. This timescale is so short, we have to encourage people to make their voices heard.”

Consensus

Councillor Peter Davies said that he was worried that the incinerator would “put the mockers” on a housing development near the school.

Councillor Fiona Warburton, who chaired the meeting said: “The consensus is definitely that we are opposing, and we have a number of sub-headings under which we will write our response.

“I’d like to thank everyone for their time and effort, this is such an important issue for all of us, it’s great to see how many people cared enough to give up their time this evening."

Councillor Warburton said she would work with the council’s clerk, Angela Evans, to go through the responses and put together a written argument against the application.

She hoped to be able to circulate this to other councillors by Friday for feedback before a final version is sent to the Welsh Government planning inspectors before the May 24 deadline.

The main points of their objection are:

• Health issues

• Air quality due to unusual weather patterns in the valley

• Increased road pollution

• Proximity to the school

• Strain on the road network with narrow bridges in both directions

• Negative impact on recycling

• Visual impact on the area

• Damage to tourism

• Pressure on the local community during building phase with the influx of workers.