A NEW beauty spot near Selby which has literally risen out of the ashes has won a prestigious award.

The reclaimed Barlow Mound, where Drax Power Station tips half a million tonnes of waste ash each year, has won the Royal Town Planning Institute's annual Silver Jubilee Cup.

The nature trail in the shadow of Europe's largest coal-fired power station beat 33 other entries for the planning achievement award.

Chairman of the judging panel Stephen Crow said the mound was an outstanding example of the disposal of industrial waste yielding positive benefits to the environment and the local community.

It was also a role model of co-operation between planners and industry to adapt to market conditions and implement new ideas on conservation. He said the excellent partnership between power station bosses and North Yorkshire County Council planners had produced an environmentally-friendly waste disposal system.

Industry representatives from all over the world visited the site so they could copy it in their own countries.

The trail includes a number of signposted walks over the landscaped mound, taking in flower meadows, woodlands, a pond and farmland.

The restored tip now provides a refuge for wild animals, and sheep, deer and cattle can also be seen grazing on its grassy slopes.

A recent survey by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds identified 101 different species, including the rare little ringed plover.

There is also a purpose-built learning centre for local school visits.

The mound now contains some small petcoke ash deposits from the recent controversial trials, but National Power says they do not present any risk to the environment or to public health.

Drax manager Dr Derek Cheetham said: "We get our fair share of brickbats, so it's nice to get this bouquet.

"It's become a real haven for wildlife, and shows how industry and local authorities can work together to the benefit of the environment."

The county council's head of policy development Philip Lawson received the award on behalf of the planning authority.

Senior planner Greg Archer said: "It's crucial we support industries which provide a lot of employment."

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