Eyesore fears over power plant
PLANS being developed as part of a major power plant project would turn 81 acres of South Yorkshire farmland into an industrial eyesore, it was claimed today.
Concerns have been raised about the proposals from Powerfuel Power Ltd, the firm behind the Hatfield Colliery clean coal power station, who want to dump three million cubic metres of colliery spoil on the countryside north of Kirton Lane between Stainforth and Thorne.
The company has applied for a compulsory purchase for the strip of land, which measures 600m long and 550m wide and is currently used for agriculture and features drainage ditches, trees and hedgerows.
It is all part of Powerfuel's plans to build a new clean coal power station on the site of the existing colliery slag heap. The heap would be moved to the fields, which are just to the west of where the M18 crosses Kirton Lane.
If it is needed, the site would also be used for tipping inert slag from the operation of the power station.
The plans have sparked concerns from Thorne ward councillor Martin Williams. He has lodged an objection to the compulsory purchase order to the Secretary of State for Energy, ahead of Friday's deadline for consultation.
He said: "They are spreading over to the other side of the road and making a horrendous eyesore.
"This is meant to be a clean coal power station. It may be clean coal but there are still slag heaps and spoil heaps. Why do we have to have this visual nightmare? It is going to ruin the area visually.
"Thorne Golf Club was told it couldn't build an extension to its club house not far away from there because it was countryside policy area, and yet we may get this.
"I think it is outrageous. The site has always been self contained in the past." Grant Budge, director of Powerfuel Power, said discussions had been going on with land owners over the move. He said the spoil had to be relocated to an alternative site to develop the power station, and the area in question was thought to be the most appropriate.
The overall scheme would create 8,000 construction jobs and 1,000 operational jobs, as well as securing 400 jobs at Hatfield Colliery.
He added: "On top of that, it is going to take out five million tonnes of carbon dioxide, which will be one per cent of the UK annual carbon footprint.
"There is a balance, and that balance is the pros and cons of the spoil heap against bringing regeneration, economic growth and jobs to an area that needs them. There is also the issue of the impact the project will have in the battle again climate change. There is a need for this.
"We will be seeking to have as little impact as possible."
Mr Budge said moving the site to the planned new location would mean it was moved further away from people's homes and he invited Coun Williams
to attend consultation meetings on the scheme.
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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