Wake Up Call for Urmston, Davyhulme and Flixton

“The residents of Urmston, Flixton and Davyhulme face the biggest challenge to the air they breathe since the battle against smog in the 1950s” declared Pete Kilvert, Chairman of the Breathe Clean Air Group.

“Not only do we face the possibility of the Davyhulme biomass waste incinerator with its toxic emissions, and the certainty of the M60 motorway exceeding air quality safety limits with traffic fumes, but we now face the risk of air pollution from other, local, industrial processes” he added.

The most immediate threat is from a project to search for coal bed methane right next to the M60 motorway at Barton high level bridge. The plan is to drill down into the coal layers, then drill horizontally under the proposed biomass incinerator site and force liquids under pressure to fracture the coal and release methane gas. This is commonly called fracking and it’s going to happen on our doorstep if Trafford Council grants planning permission. Residents should email development.control@trafford.gov.uk now, include your name and address and quote planning number 81446/RENEWAL/2013. Say that Trafford must not grant planning permission as it will adversely affect the health of your family. (See www.frackfreegtrmanchester.org.uk for further information).

It has also been revealed that toxic fracking liquid from Blackpool is being held in tanks at the United Utilities Wastewater Treatment site, awaiting permission from the Environment Agency to transfer it to the Flixton Lagoons, located near the “Mile Road” in Flixton. Hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene and xylene, which are known to cause cancer, could vaporise and blow into Flixton and Urmston on the prevailing wind. There is also a risk of radiation from this source.

In Carrington, it has been revealed that the 860 MegaWatt gas-fired power station is now going to increase to a massive 2,150 MW. The paper mill has an incinerator that burns waste plastics and the former Shell Chemicals site will be available to build industrial plants that produce toxic emissions. Urmston is downwind of Carrington.

“The Breathe Clean Air Group is most concerned about the deterioration of air quality standards and the effects it will have on all of us, especially our children,” said Pete Kilvert. “I urge residents to contact their local Councillor and tell them that they must not allow any more polluting plants to be built in Trafford.”