Cary residents prepare for battle
Friday, March 13, 2009, Blackmore Vale Magazine
Although Bronzeoak Thermal have not yet submitted an application to build a biomass power plant on its site at Dimmer, residents and councillors are moving fast to round up troops in a bid to discuss the best way to object the plans.
The business claims a 25 megawatt generator would make a significant contribution towards the governments sustainable energy targets and create diversification opportunities for farmers.
But people from Castle Cary are not convinced.
At the town council’s annual general meeting residents filled the hall to raise their concerns. It was agreed there would be a public meeting held at the Methodist Schoolroom on Monday 23rd March at 7.30pm to form a committee and discuss the best plan of attack.
Wrong place
County and district councillor for the town, Henry Hobhouse, spoke out at the meeting on Monday and told the crowd of people how angry he was about the proposal. He said although it is the correct type of plant it is in completely the wrong place, and urged people to take action against it once plans were submitted.
Richard Lansdale asked Mr Hobhouse what the town could do to implement the action needed to stop the plant from being built.
He said: “We have already had a complete disaster in Castle Cary with regards to the pet food factory. It may not smell anymore, but it still looks the same and we don’t want another disastrous set of plans to be approved.
Mr Hobhouse said: “If you are going to build something like this, it should be at the cemetery in Yeovil where the energy and hot water will not all be wasted.
“A combination of individual letters and petitions is the best way to start objecting to the plans. We need to persuade Mendip District Council the roads are not capable of taking the lorries full of fuel this plant will require to keep it going.
“It is outrageous that a 25Mw biomass plant has been proposed outside such a small town when a proposed 6Mw pyrolysis plant in Wells, which has just been approved, will provide the whole town with sufficient electricity.”
Mr Hobhouse also said the company had a history of bad management since it built and ran the incinerator in 1998 to dispose of animal carcasses following the BSE crisis.
The incinerator was shut down in 2006 by the Environment Agency for breaching emissions regulations.
Ken Knight backed up Mr Hobhouse and said: “The incinerator led to seven years of upset for the community. Bronzeoak’s track record was atrocious and in the proposal they are presenting themselves as one of the cleanest companies. I am appalled at the lies.”
Another group that has formed to oppose the application, the Dimmer Action Group, informed people at the meeting they could sign a petition against the energy plant online at dimmeractiongroup.co.uk
A spokesman from Bronzeoak said plans were not finalised, but stressed that as and when they are, the community would be consulted.
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