A public inquiry into a proposed biomass plant in south Shropshire will take longer than planned after it ran out of time to hear all the evidence.

The inquiry has taken three days but a number of witnesses and and speakers have not had a chance to speak.

Now planning inspector John Woolcock has adjourned proceedings over the planned Bishop’s Castle plant until April 7.

The inquiry has been blighted with issues since it began on Tuesday, when nearly 250 people turned up to protest before it started.

It meant the inquiry had to be moved as it was due to be held in a room that held fewer than 30 people.

The planning inspector decided to move the hearing from the community college to the school hall where it re-opened more than an hour later. Yesterday the hearing was moved to the church, where people complained throughout the day of not being able to hear evidence.

Landscape expert Jon King yesterday explained how visible the plant on the town’s business park would be and said it would not be a blot on the landscape or ruin the character of the area.

He said: “The plant will not have a significant visual adverse impact or effect on the character of the landscape under landscape guidelines of the Environmental Impact Assessment.”

But Michael Dawes, vice-chairman of the Bishop’s Castle Group, which is campaigning against the plant, questioned the viewpoints from where Mr King had carried out his assessments

The inquiry is expected to resume at the community college on April 7. A site visit will also take place and the inspector will decide whether to visit a similar plant in Eccleshall.