Standing ovation as health fears halt waste plant bid

By claire duffin cduffin@derbytelegraph.co.uk

CAMPAIGNERS fighting plans for a major waste-to-energy power station gave councillors a standing ovation when they refused permission to build the plant last night.

City council officers had recommended that Cyclamax's scheme at the new Derby Commercial Park, off Raynesway, be given the go-ahead.

But, following objections from Alvaston and Spondon ward councillors and local residents, members of Derby City Council's planning control committee turned down the plans, stating that they were concerned about the impact on people's health.

It comes after the planning control committee refused permission for a similar plant in Sinfin in December.

After last night's meeting, Simon Bacon, spokesman for campaign group Sinfin and Spondon Against Incinerators, said residents were delighted by the outcome.

He said: "Widespread concern has been shown by the people of Derby to this proposal and so we thank the planning control members for acting responsibly by throwing out this application as they did with the recent Sinfin RRS application."

The plant planned for Spondon would have dealt with 100,000 tonnes of commercial and industrial waste each year, recycling some and turning the rest into energy by a process called "gasification".

The energy produced would have been used to power the plant and other commercial and industrial units. Some would also be exported to the national grid. The plant would produce enough energy to supply 19,350 homes.

The scheme was designed to minimise the amount of waste going into landfill but people living in Spondon and Alvaston said they were concerned small particles emitted by the plant would affect their health. The nearest houses are 450m away in Anglers Lane and Rovings Drive, Spondon.

Cyclamax admitted the plant would emit small particles – known as PM2.5 because they have a diameter of less than 2.5 microns, or millionths of a metre – but said this would only be at a very low level.

In a report to councillors, city council officers said no extra deaths, emergency hospital admissions or GP consultations would be expected to arise in the area as a result of the emissions from the plant.

Officers said that it could potentially shorten people's lives by one hour but said this was compared to a loss of life of eight to nine months caused by current levels of exposure to PM2.5 in Derby.

Tony Watkins, managing director of Cyclamax, told councillors the plant would generate £1m in salaries for the local economy. Cyclamax could appeal against the decision.