Protest at burner inquiry

Protestors opposing a controversial £5million biomass power plant in Bishop's Castle are expected to turn out in force at a public inquiry tomorrow.

The inquiry starts at 10am and will run until Thursday.

The wood-chip burning power plant has been in the planning process for many months, but groups opposing the application have fought hard to see it come to an inquiry.

Members of the Bishop's Castle Group, formed to fight the proposals, children and young people, residents, business members and councillors are expected to protest outside the Community College.

Spokesman, for the Bishop's Castle Group, Nigel Hird, said it was hoped up to 200 would turn out. He said: "The plant is planned to sit alongside the college, with the tennis and rugby clubs and allotments nearby.

"It's the emissions which will cause problems for future generations really."

Mr Hird said the inquiry had been booked into the Fletcher Room at the college which only held about 40. He was hoping, due to the interest, the planning inspector would move it to the hall.

Developers behind the biomass plans claim it will be a more environmentally friendly and cheaper way of generating electricity.

They say only untreated wood fuels and crops such as miscanthus will be burnt, which will produce water and steam and not noxious gases.