A formal application for a £250 million biomass power station in Northumberland has been submitted to the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC), despite strong opposition from villagers. The 100 megawatt biomass station is planned for Battleship Wharf on the River Blyth.
The plant is designed to produce enough renewable energy to power 170,000 homes and cut carbon emissions by 300,000 tonnes a year. It will also create between 200 and 300 jobs through its construction, and will eventually create up to 50 permanent jobs.
Despite this, residents in the villages of North Blyth and Cambois have concerns that the plant is too big, too close to homes and will cause air pollution. Although similar concerns were raised during the pre-application consultation stages, the application was still submitted. However, because of the application process involved with such nationally significant infrastructure projects, residents will get a final chance to make their views known through public consultation.
Project manager Chris Lawson said, "Hundreds of people and more than 65 organisations have helped us to shape the plans for the North Blyth station, and we'd like to thank the community for its support so far. As a result of everyone's feedback, we've been able to develop a viable proposal."
Although campaigner Carol Crossland seems to disagree, "We are still against this and continue trying to fight it, although we are not so naive as to think that a lot of the time we will make any difference." She added, "I think it is a foregone conclusion that the IPC will accept the application, and we will then call another meeting to explain to people what they need to do to object."
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