[Note that Trafford Council’s decision was sadly overturned by Secretary of State Eric Pickles, following an Appeal and Public Inquiry. The Council subsequently tried to challenge this decision through Judicial Review but was unsuccessful and Peel Energy now have planning consent.]
Trafford Councillors reject controversial Biomass Incinerator
Air Pollution named a Threat to Public Health by Environmental Audit Commission
The residents of Urmston are celebrating the first round victory of their campaign to stop the controversial Barton Renewable Energy Plant. At the same time, the Parliamentary Environmental Audit Commission is saying “the Government’s failure to meet EU standards on air pollution is putting the health of UK residents at risk”.
Nationally, the Government accepts that air pollution takes seven or eight months off Briton’s life expectancy. But for the 200,000 people most directly affected, the shortfall is two years!
Breathe Clean Air Group chairman, Pete Kilvert said “we are pleased that the Government recognise there is a problem with air pollution. Here in Urmston, we have run a robust campaign against the Incinerator, based on up-to-the-minute, scientific research. We are very pleased that Urmston residents have understood the risks and support us, and we are thrilled that Trafford Councillors spoke against the plant so convincingly, at the Planning Committee meeting. However, this is only the first hurdle. In January, the Environment Agency will consider if BREP is given the necessary permit to operate. And as Peel Energy is likely to make an appeal to the Government, the campaign continues”.
Meanwhile, the latest report from Greenpeace in Canada is arguing that the recent popularity of using biomass as an energy source has outgrown its original design and now threatens Canada’s forests and their ability to help stop climate change.
For more on the Breathe Clean Air Group, visit http://www.breathecleanairgroup.co.uk/
To read Greenpeace Canada’s report, visit http://www.greenpeace.org/
To read the Environmental Audit Committee’s findings, visit http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/environmental-audit-committee/news/air-quality-a-follow-up-report/