Gas plant refused over 'health implications'

Proposals for the gas plant in Carlisle proved controversial

A proposed gasification plant has been rejected because councillors felt the evidence of the long-term health implications was unclear.

Plans for a plant that would use rubbish to produce gas at North West Recycling's (NWR) waste processing compound near Carlisle were discussed a special meeting of Cumberland Council's planning committee.

During the meeting, concerns were raised that the evidence provided was not clear, with five members voting to reject the application and two voting to accept.

The refusal marked the end of an 18-month struggle by residents who opposed the revised proposal over health and safety fears.

There were jubilant scenes and a spontaneous round of applause from the public gallery at the refusal, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

North-west Regeneration had applied for permission to build the plant at the NWR site in Rockcliffe.

It had been recommended full planning permission be granted, subject to conditions.

But, councillors were sympathetic to the plight of nearest neighbour, farmer John Story, who raised the impact on his family's health by living so close to the site.

The gasification plant would have been built on the Rockcliffe Industrial estate

Speaking after the decision, Mr Story said he was genuinely "elated".

He said he was proud of the more than 1,200 people who objected to the plans.

Mr Story added: "My youngest is asthmatic, and the effects...you don't know what it's going to be like on the long-term, whether it'll be five years or 10 years or 15 years."

Concerns were raised after a fire broke out at the waste site in 2021, and raged for a month.

When approached, no-one from North-west Regeneration was available for comment.