Fight to stop Wirral waste plant looks lost

Oct 23 2007 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post

A UNIQUE waste disposal facility on the banks of the Mersey could be given approval by planners in Wirral later this week despite a local protest.

Anglo-German firm Biossence wants to build the integrated waste treatment and power generation plant in Hooton Park to process up to 400,000 tonnes of waste a year.

Hundreds of residents living near the proposed site at North Road in Eastham have contacted the council opposing the plans.

Their objections say the land it would be built on is on the border of Eastham Conservation Village, and a green field site with trees up to 300 years old, and wildlife which needs protecting.

Other objections say the plant is “unique, untested on this scale” and its proximity to Eastham Refinery makes the site “unsuitable due to the potential hazardous environment”.

There have been 240 letters of objection and a qualifying petition containing signatures from 638 addresses, with objectors also including the Bromborough Society, Wirral Wildlife, Wirral Barn Owl trust and Eastham Village Preservation Association.

Dr Ralph Trottnow, a director of Biossence, said the plant would use existing technologies brought together in a unique way in which the waste is “sanitised” and then “cooked” under pressure.

The company says no harmful chemicals are released into the atmosphere during the process and the bio-fuel which is created as a result would power the facility as well as generating extra electricity.

As part of the process the plant would use “autoclaving” – using heat and steam to sort waste into recyclable materials for biofuel for power generation.

Autoclaving means people do not have to sort their waste themselves and so could mean households no longer need to have separate bins for different kinds of waste.

Those behind the rubbish treatment centre say it could even be used to help empty existing landfill sites.

Last month a £100m funding deal was secured to build the facility, which could create 100 jobs, and will also have a separate structure housing a visitor centre to enable educational visits.

Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority (MWDA) has said it supports the application, and earlier this year Carl Beer, director of the Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority, which represents the five district councils in the Merseyside area, said they will be “keeping a close watch” on Biossence’s plans.

Biossence’s application is due before Wirral Council’s planning committee on Thursday.

liammurphy