Meeting looks at power station

Dozens of concerned residents are expected to attend a meeting in Bishop’s Castle tonight to learn more about a planned £5 million eco power plant.

Townsfolk are worried about the effects the plant could have on them and the proposal will be considered at a meeting tonight of Bishop’s Castle Town Council.

The meeting, in the town hall, will feature a presentation from the Kemp Valley Group and will be followed by a further meeting and public exhibition next week.

Today a GP who lives in Bishop’s Castle voiced fears that the biomass power plant, earmarked for Crowgate Business Park, could have health implications.

Dr Antony Lempert, who works in Knighton, said a 2001 Government study examined the environmental and health impact of such small furnaces.

He said: “The report showed that more dangerous dioxins and furans were released by the burning process than was expected. These chemicals are very harmful to people’s health and the danger is that they will not be monitored.”

Dr Lempert said he was also concerned about the emission of tiny particles, called particulates, from the biomass plant.

He said the particles were so small that even measuring them accurately called for very specialised knowledge and equipment.