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In its formal response to a consultation request by Trafford Planning Authority, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) has stated that it considers that the Barton Renewable Energy Plant proposal do “not present any obvious cause for concern in regards to a significant health risk to local receptors from emissions, providing it is well managed and maintained.”
The HPA response continues: “Providing the incinerator complies with relevant regulations, the human health risk assessment suggests that the risks to human health from emissions from this proposed development are negligible.”
The HPA is an independent government body that exists to protect the public from threats to their health from infectious diseases and environmental hazards. It does this by providing advice and information to the general public, to health professionals such as doctors and nurses, and to national and local government.
The response to Trafford’s planning team also highlights a position paper published by the HPA which states that the organisation has reviewed the evidence on incinerators and health and that “a well-managed and well-regulated energy from waste facility presents little risk to residents.”
The HPA’s position statement concludes: “Modern, well-managed incinerators make only a small contribution to local concentrations of air pollutants. It is possible that such small additions could have an impact on health but such effects, if they exist, are likely to be very small and not detectable.”
Peel Energy’s project manager Jon England said: “The HPA is the latest in a line of organisations consulted by Trafford Planning Authority that have responded by saying that they are satisfied with the proposals put forward in the biomass plant planning application.”
“We are obviously pleased that the HPA agrees that the proposal presents a negligible public health risk to the local community.”
In a separate development, the biomass plant proposal has also gained the backing of the North West Regional Development Agency. In a letter sent to Peel Energy, the NWDA chief executive Mark Hughes writes that “we see considerable merit in the proposal and would wish to express our support for it.”
The role of NWDA is to maximise the region’s competitiveness by supporting businesses in the region, encouraging inward investment and backing innovation and employment opportunities.
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