Gas burner plan for Sutton Bridge
Councillors want more information on a renewable energy park in Sutton Bridge before taking a stance on the matter.
West Norfolk Council is being consulted on the plans for a gasification facility due to its proximity to the borough boundary.
A council officer explained to the planning committee meeting yesterday, that gasification speeds up the process that would take place if organic material was buried for millions of years.
The gas is burnt to raise steam in a boiler, which in turn drives a steam turbine to produce electricity.
The renewable energy park would comprise the gasification facility which could power around 55,000 homes, along with biomass fuel facilities, weighbridges, tank farms and ancillary buildings.
Councillor Peter Cousins asked if the 80metre high stacks would have any implications for the RAF.
He was also concerned about emissions from the site and asked that monitoring be put in place.
A planning officer confirmed that a ‘background tube’ would be set up in Walpole Cross Keys, the nearest residential centre, to assess air quality.
Mr Cousins was also concerned about the sources of the organic materials which would be burned.
A report to the council states: “It is important that a condition is placed on any permission, restricting the types of fuel that could be accepted at the plant.
“It is considered that fuels should be restricted to forestry management, virgin timber sawmill residues, agricultural crops and crop residues.”
A traffic assessment concluded there would be no significant impacts from vehicular emissions.
Officers felt there would be a negligible impact on residents form transport to and from the site in terms of air quality.
The applicant says the facility has the capacity to handle around 350,000 tonnes of biomass a year.
Councillors agreed to maintain a holding objection to the scheme pending the receipt of additional information.
Specifically they want to know more about air quality monitoring and the mapping used in the assessment.
They also wanted to know more about the cumulative sources of air pollution.
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Saturday 18 May 2013
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