leahortez86: Firm scraps �400m gas-fired power station plan

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Firm scraps �400m gas-fired power station plan

CONTROVERSIAL plans to build a �400 million gas-fired power station in the countryside have been withdrawn.

Blythe Park Power (BPP) had applied to build a plant in Cresswell which was capable of generating enough electricity to serve 1.8 million homes.

But residents in Cresswell, Draycott and Blythe Bridge campaigned against the 1,000 megawatt plant, which would have had chimneys up to 165 feet tall.

They formed the Villagers' Voice Staffordshire Moorlands (VVSM) group and were backed by Cheadle MP Bill Cash.

Now BPP has scrapped the plan because of uncertainty over the Government's specific energy policy and electricity market proposals.

VVSM chairman Jacquie Leach, aged 53, of Sandon Road, Cresswell, said:

"When I heard the news I let out a little scream. It's absolutely fantastic.

"There were too many issues with the site. Flooding was a huge issue and I don't think they could provide answers to the problems. The infrastructure isn't good enough and the roads are too narrow.

"I hope they don't come back again, because the proposal was far too big."

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council objected to the application for the Sandon Road site in February last year before a formal planning application was submitted to the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC).

A planning inquiry had been provisionally scheduled for October 18.

Now the council and the DECC have confirmed the plans have been withdrawn and Mr Cash described the result as a "huge" victory.

He said: "This �400 million project would have caused massive disruption to traffic, wildlife and ecology.

"This is a rural area and a monumental energy project of this kind was completely out of character with the area.

"I'd like to pay tribute to the campaigners, including Jacquie Leach and Darren Tranter and the VVSM group, who helped to fight this huge battle."

Retired Creda worker Colin Elks, who has lived in Cresswell for 33 years, says the decision has delighted villagers.

The 70-year-old said: "It's the best news we've heard here this year.

"It's like a big, black cloud has been lifted from the village.

"The threat of the power station has been a massive cause for concern, not just with the noise, but the risk to house prices."

Campaigners had raised �15,000 for their legal fight and will decide what will happen to the cash.

The plan for the power station, which was earmarked for land near Blythe Park industrial park, was led by Uttoxeter businessman Malcolm Barrett.

BPP development director John Wearmouth said: "We still regard Blythe Park as an excellent site for a gas-fired power station and believe that the project would play a major role in meeting the forthcoming shortfall in electricity supplies and bring major economic benefits to the region.

"However, due to the current uncertainty regarding the Government's specific energy policy and electricity market proposals, we felt it prudent to withdraw our application at this time."