SIR,
Re:Monmouthshire Planning DC/2010/00658.
On 7th September a planning application was submitted to Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) regarding the old Stelrad site at Hadnock Road, Monmouth.
This application, relating to the conversion of the existing factories/ warehouses to a 'green energy' plant has been on the cards for several years.
Similar projects throughout the UK, have been through the planning process, yet there are none currently in operation.
Recent media coverage associated with the Barry, Glamorgan application, displayed a great deal of opposition from local residents, many of whom live a half a mile from the site.
Monmouth residents, in a designated AONB, are now fighting this application as are the Haberdashers' Schools.
The residents of Hadnock Road and Riverside Park are faced with the prospect of having a plant processing contaminated wood and biomass, the collective term for any organic matter, which could include animal remains, on their doorstep.
One property in particular is directly next door to the application site.
There are several objections held by these residents in summary they are: the possibly dangerous emissions of an untested process and their effect on the population; the increase in traffic along what is in essence a country lane, the smell associated with the process; the noise of a factory in production 24/7; the decision by MCC that no environmental survey is needed; the drainage needs of such production; the 20 metre chimney/ stack which will have a detrimental effect on the visual impact of Monmouth; the inaccurate filling in of the initial application; the need for LPG tanks to be stored on site alongside the 900 degree celsius pyrolysis machine; the detrimental effect on house prices in an already volatile economy; and that here are no up and running Pyrolysis plants operational in the UK.
It is apparent that Monmouth residents must demand a public consultation as plants in the US already in existence have been causing tremendous problems in an area of up to 3km from the site.
The suggestion of an increase in health problems is extremely hard to ignore.
Monmouth town has been shielded from what is an extremely important application which is attempting to 'enter by the back door'.
Without accurate figures regarding safety it would be foolish to accept such a devastating change to the Lower Wye Valley's most famous town.
Robert and Rosemary Morris
(Monmouth)