North Selby Mine plan generates friction (From York Press)
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North Selby Mine plan generates friction
10:00am Friday 21st September 2012 in News
By Dan Bean, dan.bean@thepress.co.uk
RESIDENTS opposed to a new green energy site have spoken out about the scheme.
Dozens of residents from villages around North Selby Mine, at Deighton, attended a public exhibition in Wheldrake involving representatives from UK Coal and Peel Environmental to discuss the £23.5 million scheme. It could create up to 100 new jobs with an anaerobic digestion plant, which would recover heat and electricity from organic waste.
The North Selby Mine Action Group said a poll taken at the meeting showed 83 per cent of respondents were opposed to the proposals, with 91 per cent wanting the site kept in the green belt while 87 per cent were concerned the proposal would eventually lead to even further development of the site in the future.
Julian Sturdy , MP for York Outer, said: “The sheer scale and massing of the latest plans and the development of what ultimately remains green belt land are wholly inappropriate. In addition, the distance that sourced waste would have to travel should the anaerobic digestion power plant be approved, and the impact of such traffic on our already congested local transport network, must be taken into serious consideration by City of York Council .”
The development would see up to 88 HGV and 200 car movements every day, which the action group felt would significantly increase traffic and pollution.
David Randon, Wheldrake Parish Council Chairman, said: “Apart from the environmental impacts on residents of the parish who live near to the site, there are concerns about possible future expansion of operations which could lead to more traffic on the A19, in addition to that which will be generated by the current proposals.”
Richard Barker, Peel Environmental’s development manager, said: “We understand the concerns some people have about the scheme, and we’re working to ensure that we have the best possible solution to each of these through the planning process.”
