Motions Agreed at Full Council Meeting
You can listen to the meeting by watching the following video. Apologies in advance for the low sound quality, but the recording was taken from the Public Gallery, above the Council Chamber.
Motion 1
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 2
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.
We believe that in Trafford air pollution is at risk of getting worse, particularly in Davyhulme, and we have to take steps to prevent the consequential health risks to the local population.
Therefore this Council resolves to:
• Provide targeted monitoring of air quality throughout the borough to establish the extent of the problem, acknowledging 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.
• Measure and monitor air quality in the Air Quality Corridor to establish how big the problem is.
• Ensure that Trafford Council’s planning policy protects the people of Trafford as far as possible from further air pollution. It is considered that the Council’s Local Plan provides an up-to-date and robust framework against which new development proposals are assessed.
• Seek out companies/processes that already pollute Trafford’s air and take the necessary steps to clean up or close down those processes.
• 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.