Trafford Council and the residents of Trafford continue to be extremely concerned about the health hazards posed by the proposed biomass incinerator in Davyhulme and surrounding areas, where the levels of nitrogen oxides are very high and will worsen with the completion of the incinerator.

 

The Council notes the failure of Peel Energy to take into account the clearly expressed opposition of Trafford residents and their elected representatives over the building of this plant, due to their valid concerns over air quality and requests that Peel Energy reconsiders its decision to proceed with the biomass plant and take no steps to commence construction.

 

The Council will continue to support our local community to the best of its ability.

(Procedural Arrangements – Since the Motions set out at Items 11 (a) and 11 (c) on the Council Summons concerned the same issues, the Mayor, with the consent of the Council, suspended Procedure Rules to enable both these Motions to be moved and seconded, then debated together, before being determined.)

 

It was moved and seconded as a 1^st Motion that:

 

“Trafford Council and the residents of Trafford continue to be extremely concerned about the health hazards posed by the proposed biomass incinerator in Davyhulme and surrounding areas, where the levels of nitrogen oxides are very high and will worsen with the completion of the incinerator.

 

The Council notes the failure of Peel Energy to take into account the clearly expressed opposition of Trafford residents and their elected representatives over the building of this plant, due to their valid concerns over air quality and requests that Peel Energy reconsiders its decision to proceed with the biomass plant and take no steps to commence construction.

 

The Council will continue to support our local community to the best of its ability.”

 

It was moved and seconded as a 2^nd Motion that:

 

“This Council is extremely disappointed that it’s Appeal against the Barton Renewable Energy Plant (Davyhulme Incinerator) was rejected last month. For the Government to allow such a development against unanimous public, Council and Planning Committee opposition flies in the face of democracy and the Localism Act.

 

This has taken place against the background of a recent European Commission decision to prosecute the UK for infringements of air quality standards which includes areas such as Greater Manchester.

 

Council recognises that the Environment Agency is not able to protect the air we breathe, because they are unable to refuse Environmental Permits to incinerators, do not undertake unannounced monitoring visits to polluting processes, and allow companies with polluting process to carry out their own air pollution measurements.

 

We believe that in Trafford air pollution is getting worse, particularly in Davyhulme, and we have to take steps to prevent the consequential health risks to the local population, especially the children.

 

Therefore this Council resolves to:

 

•       Extensively measure and monitor air quality throughout the borough to establish how big the problem is. This requires investment beyond the Government’s guidelines, so that we can monitor nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, PM10 particulates, PM2.5 particulates, PM1 particulates, dioxins, 12 heavy metals including arsenic, 1.3 butadiene, etc.

 

•       Ensure that Trafford Council’s planning policy protects the people of Trafford from further air pollution and does not favour companies that will pollute Trafford’s air.

 

•       seek out companies/processes that already pollute Trafford’s air and take the necessary steps to clean up or close down those processes.

 

•       put forward a proposal to the Secretary of State under the 2007 Sustainable Communities Act, to give Trafford Council the authority to prevent the construction and operation of a power plant, incinerator or Part A process, that reduces the air quality in areas subject to regular air quality monitoring. This would include schemes such as the Barton Renewable Energy Plant in Davyhulme.

 

•       Engage with Peel Energy and its parent company in a strong stance to deliver an unambiguous message that the residents of Trafford remain of the steadfast view that the plant should not be built now, or at any time in the future, and it is a message that Peel should heed.”

 

It was moved and seconded as an amendment to the 2^nd Motion that:

 

“This Council is extremely disappointed that it’s Appeal against the Barton Renewable Energy Plant (Davyhulme Incinerator) was rejected last month. For the Government to allow such a development against unanimous public, Council and Planning Committee opposition flies in the face of democracy and the Localism Act.

 

This has taken place against the background of a recent European Commission decision to prosecute the UK for infringements of air quality standards which includes areas such as Greater Manchester.

 

We believe that in Trafford air pollution is at risk of getting worse, particularly in Davyhulme, and we have to take steps to prevent the consequential health risks to the local population.

 

Therefore this Council resolves to:

 

•       Measure and monitor air quality in the Air Quality Corridor to establish how big the problem is.

 

·              Ensure that Trafford Council’s planning policy protects the people of Trafford as far as possible from further air pollution. It is considered that the Council’s Local Plan provides an up-to-date and robust framework against which new development proposals are assessed.

 

•       Seek out companies/processes that already pollute Trafford’s air and take the necessary steps to clean up or close down those processes.

•       Engage with Peel Energy and its parent company in a strong stance to deliver an unambiguous message that the residents of Trafford remain of the steadfast view that the plant should not be built now, or at any time in the future, and it is a message that Peel should heed.”

 

(Note: During the debate on all matters, the time being 8.22 p.m., the Mayor indicated that the length of speeches would be restricted to 1 minute per speaker).

 

As part of the debate, the mover of the 2^nd Motion signified acceptance of the amendment, subject to the retention of a slightly revised wording of the first bullet point from the original motion set out on the Summons. The mover and seconder of the amendment also signified their consent to the revised amendment as follows:

 

“This Council is extremely disappointed that it’s Appeal against the Barton Renewable Energy Plant (Davyhulme Incinerator) was rejected last month. For the Government to allow such a development against unanimous public, Council and Planning Committee opposition flies in the face of democracy and the Localism Act.

 

This has taken place against the background of a recent European Commission decision to prosecute the UK for infringements of air quality standards which includes areas such as Greater Manchester.

 

We believe that in Trafford air pollution is at risk of getting worse, particularly in Davyhulme, and we have to take steps to prevent the consequential health risks to the local population.

 

Therefore this Council resolves to:

 

•       Provide targeted monitoring of air quality throughout the borough to establish the extent of the problem, acknowledging this requires investment beyond the Government’s guidelines, so that we can monitor nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, PM10 particulates, PM2.5 particulates, PM1 particulates, dioxins, 12 heavy metals including arsenic, 1.3 butadiene, etc.

 

•       Measure and monitor air quality in the Air Quality Corridor to establish how big the problem is.

 

·              Ensure that Trafford Council’s planning policy protects the people of Trafford as far as possible from further air pollution. It is considered that the Council’s Local Plan provides an up-to-date and robust framework against which new development proposals are assessed.

 

•       Seek out companies/processes that already pollute Trafford’s air and take the necessary steps to clean up or close down those processes.

•       Engage with Peel Energy and its parent company in a strong stance to deliver an unambiguous message that the residents of Trafford remain of the steadfast view that the plant should not be built now, or at any time in the future, and it is a message that Peel should heed.”

 

Following a debate on all matters, the 1^st Motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

 

The revised amendment to the 2^nd Motion was then agreed with the full consent of the Council and consequently, the substantive Motion was declared carried.

 

RESOLVED –

 

(1)        That Trafford Council and the residents of Trafford continue to be extremely concerned about the health hazards posed by the proposed biomass incinerator in Davyhulme and surrounding areas, where the levels of nitrogen oxides are very high and will worsen with the completion of the incinerator.

 

The Council notes the failure of Peel Energy to take into account the clearly expressed opposition of Trafford residents and their elected representatives over the building of this plant, due to their valid concerns over air quality and requests that Peel Energy reconsiders its decision to proceed with the biomass plant and take no steps to commence construction.

 

The Council will continue to support our local community to the best of its ability.

 

(2)        That this Council is extremely disappointed that it’s Appeal against the Barton Renewable Energy Plant (Davyhulme Incinerator) was rejected last month. For the Government to allow such a development against unanimous public, Council and Planning Committee opposition flies in the face of democracy and the Localism Act.

 

This has taken place against the background of a recent European Commission decision to prosecute the UK for infringements of air quality standards which includes areas such as Greater Manchester.

 

We believe that in Trafford air pollution is at risk of getting worse, particularly in Davyhulme, and we have to take steps to prevent the consequential health risks to the local population.

 

Therefore this Council resolves to:

 

•       Provide targeted monitoring of air quality throughout the borough to establish the extent of the problem, acknowledging this requires investment beyond the Government’s guidelines, so that we can monitor nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, PM10 particulates, PM2.5 particulates, PM1 particulates, dioxins, 12 heavy metals including arsenic, 1.3 butadiene, etc.

 

•       Measure and monitor air quality in the Air Quality Corridor to establish how big the problem is.

 

·              Ensure that Trafford Council’s planning policy protects the people of Trafford as far as possible from further air pollution. It is considered that the Council’s Local Plan provides an up-to-date and robust framework against which new development proposals are assessed.

 

•       Seek out companies/processes that already pollute Trafford’s air and take the necessary steps to clean up or close down those processes.

•       Engage with Peel Energy and its parent company in a strong stance to deliver an unambiguous message that the residents of Trafford remain of the steadfast view that the plant should not be built now, or at any time in the future, and it is a message that Peel should heed.