Plans to build a new renewable energy plant have been recommended for refusal by council officials.
Thetford biomass plant could be rejected
By REBECCA GOUGH
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
10:18 AM
Plans to build a new renewable energy plant have been recommended for refusal by officials who say it would be “detrimental” to the area.
The biomass plant on Mundford Road in Thetford is proposed to run off waste wood, poultry litter and tall dried grass and is estimated to be able to export enough electricity to heat 68,500 homes.
But officers on Norfolk County Council’s planning body have recommended councillors refuse the scheme at a planning meeting to be held next week.
In a report to go before the meeting, they said the fact the site was greenfield land would contravene policy to preserve the open countryside, that visual impact would be “detrimental”, road miles would be “significant” as two thirds of the waste would be sourced from outside the county, and that there was “insufficient” data to imply no adverse impact from air pollution on plant life.
The report went on: “The nature of this development assists in the recovery of waste to be recycled and reduces the amount of waste sent to landfill for disposal, thus, in the context of use proposed, it is supported in principle.
“However there are concerns with regard to the location of the site, potential for impact upon the landscape, and with at least two thirds of the waste received at the facility not expected to arise within Norfolk there are also concerns with regard to sustainability issues.”
The applicants, MEIF Renewable Energy Holdings Ltd, said the proposed biomass plant could provide 40MW of electricity on the 12.2 hectare site and would incinerate around 339 tonnes of waste per year. The buildings could vary in height with the stack at 80 metres tall and the boiler house at 44.5m tall, 33 metres in length and 34 metres in width.
A new right-hand turn off the northbound A134 Mundford Road is also proposed to allow access to the site and the road could be widened. Trees could be planted on the western, southern and eastern boundaries and the site would be lit at night for health and safety reasons. It could operate on a 24-hour shift pattern and around 36 staff would be employed. If given the go-ahead, the plant could take around 28 months to build, employing 123 construction workers in that time.
Objections however have also been received from Breckland District Council, Thetford Town Council and surrounding parish councils. English Heritage objected on the grounds that it would affect a nearby ancient scheduled monument and conservation area, while Natural England raised concerns about the potential for air-born pollution to the Breckland Forest site of special scientific interest (SSSI).
The Forestry Commission also raised concerns about any assumptions for significant fuel supply coming from the forestry sector. Some 56 letters and emails of objection were received, and three letters of support.
A decision will be made on January 6.
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13 comments
He said "The chimney stack is going to be 300 ft high – you’ll be able to see the facility for at least 20 miles around and it's really far too prominent a site, being on the edge of the Brecks, an environmentally sensitive area as it is." This is another own goal by Monson - who seems to have forgotten all about his pet incinerator in Kings Lynn, with it's 278 ft chimney, on a prominent site, in an environmentally sensitive area. How can anyone seriously trust anything this man says?
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Fenscape
Friday, January 6, 2012
I hope you all heard Cllr Monson on Radio Norfolk this morning, bless him! The little dear is totally opposed to the Thetford Biomass plant saying that it would cause all manner of blight, and it would be visible for some 20 miles around. Welcome to the world of every resident of Kings Lynn and West Norfolk Monson. At least a biomass plant will not poison you! Monson was resposible for pushing the incinerator for those of you who are unaware I think he deserves an award for the biggest Hypocrite of the decade.
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Joy, King's Lynn
Friday, January 6, 2012
Maybe NCC are worrying about the fact that as household waste levels start falling they will have to find rubbish from somewhere to feed their pet incinerator in Kings Lynn in order to avoid penalty charges. By stopping this particular development they can just add the waste meant for it onto the road train that will be winding it's way to the west of the county anyway....
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Fenscape
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
printing error i hope? 339 tonnes per year, no money to be made there then. that would only be 13 lorries, which would make no difference on the by pass and the company would be bust in a month. Somebody has got their numbers wrong.
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Paul Cotsell
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Well it is nice to see local authorities working with Parish Councils and making joined up objections that reflect the wishes of local residents. Don't see any of that happening here in Broadland who have plans for a bio mass plant to support the thousands of homes proposed for the north east growth triangle.
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BDC INSIDER
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Amazing isn't it - mention the name of the Norfolk cabinet member for Waste and Environment or his predecessor and all of a sudden the system blocks your comments? Happy New Year EDP and carry on doing county's work for them!
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Fenscape
Monday, January 2, 2012
The applicants don't seem to have definite plans by the number of times "could" as opposed to "would" is used. The "woulds" make them money and the "coulds" cost them money.
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nicholas dasey
Monday, January 2, 2012
Oh dear oh dear oh dear, whatever do Breckland Councillors Borrett and Steward have to say about this then?
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Fenscape
Monday, January 2, 2012
I don't think landfill is the only alternative disposal option for "waste wood, poultry litter and tall dried grass" so this proposal is unnecessary. There must be other ways of treating these materials that would enable the enrichment of the notoriously poor soil of the Breckland area. Interestingly, if the objections to this development had been applied to the expansion of Thetford over the last sixty years it would never have happened. A vast amount of ancient remains, wildlife and habitats, and unique landscape have been sacrificed and will continue so to be as these same authorities continue with their campaign of Moving Thetford Forward.
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JCW
Monday, January 2, 2012
Road miles - this isn't considered in the decision to put an incinerator in King's l;ynn - why include it here. Come on Mr Murphy overrule the decision and apply the same logic everywhere. 65,000 trees can't object can they?
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IanofNorfolk
Monday, January 2, 2012
So it's OK to refuse this but to fight tooth and nail for something far far worse - the Kings Lynn incinerator. Hypocrisy in the extreme.
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alecto
Monday, January 2, 2012
If this is true it is very good news for all of us who have hoped and prayed that this would not be imposed on Thetford like so many previous bad developments which have proved to be detrimental to the town
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caroline jacobs
Monday, January 2, 2012
If this plant is unacceptable just think how much more unacceptable is the mass burn incinerator (with all the importation of the rest of the country's rubbish for burning) that NCC are trying to foist on the good folk of West Norfolk.
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Ira Rose
Monday, January 2, 2012