OPPONENTS of controversial plans to build a £30 million energy facility in North Yorkshire have renewed their efforts to get answers about the plans.

The proposed North Selby Mine facility would create electricity to power thousands of homes from biomass and food waste and would create more than 100 jobs for the area.

A planning application is expected later this year, but exhibitions have already taken place advising residents of nearby villages about the scheme, in an effort to address concerns.

But Dr Mike Hill, of Escrick, and Roger Bird, of Wheldrake, say the exhibitions give few details, and have started their own campaign against the energy facility.

Mr Bird said: “We have written to every councillor on the council and only had one response, and an acknowledgement from the chair.

“It’s very difficult to get any details from them as to why they want to go ahead with this plan.

“We’ve also written to the companies concerned, but are getting very little response.”

Dr Hill said: “The companies haven’t considered us residents, just put on an exhibition. But if you ask any of the representatives at the events any questions, they can’t answer them.”

Mr Bird said: “The Peel Group have now advised us that the plant will generate only 10Mw of electricity from 170,000 tonnes of commercial and industrial waste, and not 27Mw from 190,000 tonnes, which is what they told the villages of Escrick and Wheldrake in October.”

Dr Hill said: “In our area, we already have a concentration of power stations, including Drax, Eggborough and Ferrybridge, and Drax are planning two more 250Mw power plants, one of which will be at Selby, and the other at Immingham.

“The point here is that our air quality is under attack already without the North Selby Mine proposal.”