Smog Chemical Set to Increase
One of the constituents of smog, which blighted industrial cities in the 1950s and killed thousands of people, is making a comeback. Deadly nitrogen dioxide, which is produced by motor vehicles and industrial processes, including biomass incinerators, is already higher than the safety level around parts of the M60 motorway, which has been declared an Air Quality Management Area. Peel Energy wants to build the Barton Renewable Energy Plant right next to this area in Davyhulme, Greater Manchester. The plant’s nitrogen dioxide emissions will carry into parts of Trafford, Salford and Manchester.
“Nitrogen dioxide was one of the issues raised at the Breathe Clean Air Group’s Public Meeting held last week at Christ Church, Davyhulme, attended by nearly 300 local people” said Pete Kilvert, Chairman of the campaign group. “And Salford City Council has sent its research paper to the Environment Agency saying that the proposed incinerator further delays the attainment of the nationally set air quality standard for nitrogen dioxide to protect human health by the UK Government.”
The Salford Council statement concludes that the “location of the plant and the impact of the emissions remain a serious concern in terms of health impacts and compliance with the air quality standards. It is recommended that the Environmental Permit is not granted”.
The Breathe Clean Air Group is urging local residents to have their say about the incinerator at the Public Inquiry which starts at 10 am on Tuesday 13th November at Manchester United Football Ground. See www.BreatheCleanAirGroup.co.uk for details.
The group held its regular Street Stall outside Urmston Library on Saturday. Response to signing their petition was excellent and it is hoped that the 10,000 signatures mark will be reached soon. A fundraising coffee morning was held on Sunday morning at the home of Becky Whelan in Victoria Road, Urmston, attended by over 40 friends and neighbours and raising nearly £300. For further fundraising events, please see the group’s website.