More Political Support
The Breathe Clean Air Group has received more tremendous cross-party support from our local councillors and MP.  We know that they have all considered the impact of the incinerator on our community very carefully.  We are thrilled to have their support!
A letter from MP Kate Green regarding the biomass power plant
As promised, I’m writing to let you know that Peel Energy have now registered their planning application for the Biomass Power Plant in Trafford. The standard consultation time is usually 21 days. However, residents have raised concerns that this is not long enough; especially given the Christmas and New Year holidays. I’m pleased to let you know that, following pressure from your local Labour councillors, the Council have now agreed to extend the deadline until 12th January.
As I’ve mentioned, it is now up to the Council’s planning committee who will decide whether to approve or reject the application. You will therefore need to contact the Council directly to raise the concerns you have again about the application.
Please don’t forget to mention the planning application reference number, which is: 76153/FULL/2010; and you will also need to address your letter/email to the Chief Planning Officer, Simon Castle. The postal address is: Planning and Building Control, Trafford Council, PO Box 96, Waterside House, Sale, M33 7ZF; and the email address is:development.control@trafford.gov.uk.
You can view detail of the planning application by logging onto the Council’s or Peel Energy’s website. The document can also be viewed in person at Davyhulme, Stretford and Urmston Library. Peel Energy have also organised two public consultation events at Powerleague Trafford Soccer Dome on Thursday 9th December (4pm-9pm) and Friday 10th December (10am-3pm). The Soccer Dome address is Trafford Way, Trafford Quays Leisure Village, M17 8DD. I do hope this information is helpful.
In the meantime, if I can be of further assistance with any other matter please don’t hesitate to contact me again and, as ever, I’ll be more than happy to help where I can.
Urmston Councillor Kevin Proctor (Labour) is also objecting to the plant and said:-
“I’ve been working closely with members of the Breathe Clean Air Group and I’m very much against this plant in this location. The Breathe Clean Air Group have done a terrific job of exposing the environmental issues and generating overwhelming support from the public. Although the support from my Conservative colleagues is welcome news, the job is not finished and we still need people to write in to planning to state their objections”
Local Conservatives object as Barton Renewable Energy Plant / Biomass Application Received
Trafford Council has now received the application from Peel Energy for full planning permission for a 20 MW biomass fuelled power plant which would be located on land immediately to the west of the M60 Motorway at Barton Bridge south of the Manchester Ship Canal.
Urmston Conservative Councillors Eddie Kelson and Christine Turner are supporting Urmston residents in their opposition to the Barton Renewable Plant.
Eddie Kelson said ‘ Christine and I believe that this proposal is in nobody’s best interest. Local residents have genuine concerns about the possible impact on their health and
particularly that of their children based on very compelling expert scientific opinion. The area at risk if this project goes ahead is up to a 10 mile radius and could impact on the lives of thousands of people ‘.
Christine Turner agreed, saying ‘ Whilst I support the need to find other ways of generating energy I do not think enough is known about the effects of the emissions on the health of residents living to close to a plant of this kind. A heavily populated area is not the place to build a biomass plant ‘
They are joined in their opposition by other local Conservatives, including Flixton councillor Jonathan Coupe, who said ‘I totally support residents of Flixton in opposing this scheme, which many of us feel sceptical about, to say the least. We remain so while we don’t know the health implications of such a proposal’
Consultation on the planning application starts this week (w/c 6th December 2010). The application can be inspected at the Council offices at Sale Waterside and in the libraries at Woodsend, Davyhulme, Urmston Town Centre, Lostock and Stretford Town Centre. It can also be inspected on the Council’s website at www.trafford.gov.uk/planning and the application reference is 76153/FULL/2010.
Comments are welcomed up to 12th January 2011 and should be sent to Planning and Building Control, Trafford Council, PO Box 96, Sale Waterside, Sale, Cheshire M33 7ZF or by e-mail to development.control@trafford.gov.uk.
Labour Statement
We are concerned about the proposed ” Wood Burning Renewable Energy Plant” next to Davyhulme Sewage works on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal. The waste wood burning process is a relatively new sort of energy plant, and there are serious concerns related to the dioxin emissions such a plant would emit into the atmosphere with the subsequent health risks to people.
Many local residents, along with expert scientists have made a great deal of representations to elected members of Council expressing grave concern regarding this plant and the health dangers the emissions may have on people living near to the plant. It was important we listen to those concerns and take them into account when coming to a view on this matter.
We also need to acknowledge that with Trafford Park Industrial Estate on our door step, and other Gas Fired Power Plants proposed in North Trafford, along with the severe transport pollution we already have in the area, it is our view that the residents of Davyhulme, Flixton, Urmston and Stretford have enough pollution to contend with on their doorstep, without adding to it with yet another Power Plant.
In light of the above concerns the Trafford Labour Group of Councillor’s have decided it cannot support, at this stage, the proposals for this Energy Plant in this location. Therefore our opposition to this Plant will remain until such times that the public have confidence in the safety of such Plants.
I see many councillors have signed our petition! We have the support of different political councillors – all putting their constituent’s health first. Fantastic!