Opposition grows to biogas plant scheme (From Knutsford Guardian)

Opposition grows to biogas plant scheme

12:20pm Tuesday 2nd October 2012 in News By David Morgan

OPPOSITION is mounting against plans to open a biogas plant in Twemlow, with fears it could ‘industrialise’ the countryside.

More than 300 people in the village and surrounding areas have written letters of objection to Cheshire East Council in response to farmer Ray Brown’s green energy scheme.

Janet Capper, spokesman for Twemlow and Goostrey (TAG) No To Waste Plant, said: “Objections have been flooding in from Twemlow, Cranage, Goostrey and Holmes Chapel, showing the true level of concern about the impact of the proposed waste plant.”

Mr Brown wants to transform the former Ministry of Defence depot in Twemlow Lane into an anaerobic digestion plant which would break down slurry and food waste to create energy.

Ms Capper said: “We want to protect our environment against the effects of trucking in to the plant 47,000 tonnes of imported slurry, chicken manure and rotting food waste each year from around the county or beyond – as well as getting rid of more than 41,000 tonnes of slurry digestate.

“It’s upsetting many residents that the proposed waste plant will affect their environment.

“Most people who have lived or moved to the Goostrey and Twemlow area over the past 30 years did so because it is a green and tranquil place to live, and don’t want to be threatened with such industrialisation of the countryside.

“It’s easy to see from reading the plans that it would have an impact, from the increase in traffic on our country lanes alone.”

Protestors also say the scheme would be too close to houses and less than 750 metres from Goostrey Primary School.

In an outline of the Community Renewable Energy Scheme it says the traffic increase will be 15 round-trips a day, which is disputed by the TAG No To Waste group.

Mr Brown also argues that the project will not create any odours as materials would be delivered in sealed containers and unloaded in a negative pressure environment.

To lodge your comments with Cheshire East Council visit planning.cheshireeast.gov.uk with the reference 12/0705W.