Full Council Meeting – Wednesday 26th March
There is a meeting of all Trafford Councillors on Wednesday 26th March at the Trafford Town Hall. This is a regular council meeting, but the Conservative and Labour Groups have each put forward a motion in relation to BREP and Local Air Pollution.
This is a public meeting, meaning that anyone can attend and observe from the Public Gallery.
Date: Wednesday 26th March 2014
Time: 7pm
Venue: Council Chamber, Trafford Town Hall, Talbot Road, Stretford, M32 0TH
MOTIONS PUT FORWARD
Motion Submitted by the Conservative Group – Biomass Plant, Davyhulme
Trafford Council and the residents of Trafford continue to be extremely concerned about the health hazards posed by the proposed biomass incinerator in Davyhulme and surrounding areas, where the levels of nitrogen oxides are very high and will worsen with the completion of the incinerator.
The Council notes the failure of Peel Energy to take into account the clearly expressed opposition of Trafford residents and their elected representatives over the building of this plant, due to their valid concerns over air quality and requests that Peel Energy reconsiders its decision to proceed with the biomass plant and take no steps to commence construction.
The Council will continue to support our local community to the best of its ability.
Motion submitted by the Labour Group – Air Pollution
This Council is extremely disappointed that its Appeal against the Barton Renewable Energy Plant (Davyhulme Incinerator) was rejected last month. For the Government to allow such a development against unanimous public, Council and Planning Committee opposition flies in the face of democracy and the Localism Act.
This has taken place against the background of a recent European Commission decision to prosecute the UK for infringements of air quality standards which includes areas such as Greater Manchester.
Council recognises that the Environment Agency is not able to protect the air we breathe, because they are unable to refuse Environmental Permits to incinerators, do not undertake unannounced monitoring visits to polluting processes, and allow companies with polluting process to carry out their own air pollution measurements.
We believe that in Trafford air pollution is getting worse, particularly in Davyhulme, and we have to take steps to prevent the consequential health risks to the local population, especially the children.
Therefore this Council resolves to:
• Extensively measure and monitor air quality throughout the borough to establish how big the problem is. This requires investment beyond the Government’s guidelines, so that we can monitor nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, PM10 particulates, PM2.5 particulates, PM1 particulates, dioxins, 12 heavy metals including arsenic, 1.3 butadiene, etc.
• Ensure that Trafford Council’s planning policy protects the people of Trafford from further air pollution and does not favour companies that will pollute Trafford’s air.
• seek out companies/processes that already pollute Trafford’s air and take the necessary steps to clean up or close down those processes.
• put forward a proposal to the Secretary of State under the 2007 Sustainable Communities Act, to give Trafford Council the authority to prevent the construction and operation of a power plant, incinerator or Part A process, that reduces the air quality in areas subject to regular air quality monitoring. This would include schemes such as the Barton Renewable Energy Plant in Davyhulme.
• Engage with Peel Energy and its parent company in a strong stance to deliver an unambiguous message that the residents of Trafford remain of the steadfast view that the plant should not be built now, or at any time in the future, and it is a message that Peel should heed.