On the Trafford side of the Manchester Ship Canal, Peel Holdings had big plans for the Barton Renewable Energy Plant, a biomass waste incinerator, which campaigners from the Breathe Clean Air Group believed would be detrimental to the health and happiness of local residents.
Trafford Council agreed and refused Peel planning permission, arguing that it would be a "threat to residents". Peel Holdings, never one to accept a democratic decision lightly, appealed and prompted a full scale Public Inquiry which began in mid November and finished last week.
In between the first protest against the plant over two years ago and the ending of the Inquiry there's been more protests by residents, Trafford councillors lining up to slag the plans, Salford Council formally opposing Peel and Dr Mary Booth, a leading expert on air emissions from biomass power plants, slamming the incinerator "as one of the most dangerous I have seen in terms of potential impacts to human health."
The twelve day Inquiry focused on health impacts and environmental concerns, with campaigners against the plant highlighting the potential danger of the incinerator's emissions, with their monitoring being condemned as completely inadequate. Salford Council's Assistant Mayor for Health, Margaret Morris, was one of those who opposed Peel at the Inquiry.
"We have campaigned for the last two and a half years against this scheme, to protect the air we breathe from deadly contamination" says Pete Kilvert, Chairman of the Breathe Clean Air Group "We are delighted that Trafford Council has unanimously opposed the incinerator and that 15 Trafford councillors and a senior councillor from neighbouring Salford, spoke out at the Inquiry. Some sixty members of the public, including Breathe Clean Air Group members also spoke and condemned the incinerator."
Meanwhile, apart from the proposers of the scheme, Peel Energy itself, not one single person spoke in favour of the controversial incinerator.
The Planning Inspector will report his findings next year, before Eric Pickles, Secretary of State, makes the final decision. He's stopped Peel trashing raised bogs at Chat Moss. Now will he stop them trashing people in Trafford and Salford?
See previous Salford Star articles on the Barton Incinerator…
Peel Holdings Incinerator Set To Boom In Barton – click here…
Last Chance To Stop Peel Holdings Salford Polluting Incinerator - click here
Peel Holdings Incinerator Disgrace - click here
Incinerator Dangerous Says US Expert - click here
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