Waste plant in Brierley Hill may be rejected amid protests

Clean Power had lodged proposals to build the plant which would process around 195,000 tonnes of mixed waste, including food, each year.

But campaigners have been fighting the scheme saying they fear it would lead to an increase in traffic, release odours and blight the landscape.

Around 350 people signed a petition against the plans to build the plant on disused land near a railway line, off Moor Street.

And planning officers at Dudley Council have now recommended the scheme is refused by councillors at a meeting next week, saying the site is not an appropriate location for the plant.

The recommendation was today welcomed by ward councillor Rachel Harris who said there was a lot of opposition to the plans.

The firm said the plant would generate electricity for 10,000 homes and create about 30 jobs. Under the proposals it would operate 24 hours a day and seven days a week except during shutdowns required for maintenance. Deliveries to the site would be during the daytime.

Mixed waste would be fed into the plant where recyclable products such as glass would first be removed.

The remaining waste would then be heated up using a process called pyrolysis to convert it into gas. The food waste would also be converted into gas using digestion tanks. The two gases would then be combined and used to generate electricity, which would be fed into the National Grid network.

But a report by planning officers says the site earmarked for the plant is located within 229ft of a housing estate making it unsuitable.

Recommending the scheme is refused, officers said: "In this case the site is located close to residential properties and as such there is a likelihood that the amenity enjoyed by the occupiers of those dwellings could be adversely affected by odour associated with the proposed waste operation, and as such the site is not considered to be an appropriate location for the proposed use."

Councillor Harris said: "All of the ward councillors are opposed to this application. I have visited a similar waste plant elsewhere and I just feel it would be a constant nuisance for people in the area and that's why I support this recommendation."

Steve Crutchely from Clean Power Properties said: "We take our commitment to local communities very seriously and will continue to speak to residents to address any concerns."

The planning application will go before councillors on August 27.