NEARLY 70 residents are fighting plans for three 75 ft high exhaust emission stacks at a gas utilisation compound within the controversial Arpley Landfill site at Warrington.
They claim the three stacks – which would replace an existing, single 82ft stack – would result in plumes of a brown/yellow discharge climbing up to 50m in height, depending on the weather conditions.
This would result in a deterioration in air quality in the area.
The application comes before Warrington Borough Council’s development management committee next week.
Planning officers are recommending it be approved – and stress that although the gas utilisation compound is within the Arpley Landfill site, and generates electricity from gases emitting from the landfill site, it is a totally separate development…
The future of the landfill site is in the balance at the moment, following the three week public inquiry into an appeal against the council’s refusal to grant planning consent for the site to remain open. But officers said the gas utilisation compound will be required even if the landfill site is forced to close.
A total of 67 objections have been received to the development – mostly from the Saxon Park housing estate but also from Liverpool Road.
They say the existing single stack already emits a brown/yellow discharge anything up to 50m high on a continuous basis.
The gas utilisation compound was a “significant blight” on the landscape and three plumes instead of one would have a threefold detrimental effect.
Residents said the application ignored hundreds of houses nearby, industrial neighbours, the Trans Penning Way and the Mersey Sailing Club. The development would increase the capacity of the plant from 15 to 17mw – again impacting on air quality.
Planning officers say there will be a negligible impact on air quality the overall impact on the Green Belt would be limited.
If the development did not go ahead a significant proportion of renewable-low carbon energy would not be generated.
The part the new stacks would play in tackling climate change outweighed the totality of any perceived harm.
NEARLY 70 residents are fighting plans for three 75 ft high exhaust
emission stacks at a gas utilisation compound within the controversial
Arpley Landfill site at Warrington.
Residents fight landfill site plan
00 Comments
Share.
About Author
Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
