Updates on Southall Power Station Planning EnquiryUpdate on 1st July 2010Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles MP, has dismissed Blue NG's appeal, and refused planning permission for the power station. Read the full story...Update on 14th April 2010The appeal into Blue NG’s plans to build the Southall Biofuel Power station finished on Wed 17th March. The national planning inspector will take up to three weeks writing a report in which he will make recommendations to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (John Denham) as to whether or not to recommend the building of the power station. I have received a letter from the Planning Inspectorate saying that the Secretary of State will make his decision on or before 30th June 2010.It’s almost impossible to tell what the planning inspector will decide as he did not give any clues. Blue NG accept that regarding air quality there are breaches of EU limits and UK statuary objectives that will be worsened by the power station. But they are arguing that background pollution limits will go down and their tiny contribution won’t be taking air qual over the limit. Also arguing about thresholds, levels of exceedence not significant. Speakers at the enquiry included Councillors Reeves, Noori, Gucharan Singh and Kang. Dave Bookless of Conservation Organisation Arocha spoke. Blue NG have now applied for costs. BNG will get £90 per KWhour, 2/3 or their income will come from ROC subsidies. Update on Saturday 13th March 2010
Southall Power Station Planning Enquiry update I got the following information from others who were at the planning enquiry: All the evidence stating and cross examination by all parties finished on Friday. The planning enquiry is breaking from Sat 13th to Mon 15th inclusive. On Tuesday there is a site visit that Blue NG and the council and the planning inspector are going on . The last day of the enquiry is Wednesday 17th. All three parties (Blue NG, Ealing Council and Biofuelwatch/EFOE need to deliver their closing submissions. There will be a final opportunity for members of the public to speak. However, Rob doubts that more speakers now could add much to the case. There will then be a discussion to agree what conditions should be put on Blue NG if the planning inspector decides to recommend approval. The decision however may not be made for several weeks. John Ackers’s understanding on the process is that: “Inspector has to write his report. The civil servants at Department of Communities and Local Government have to write cover note, accepting or rejecting inspectors decision and get Secretary of State to sign it. If blue-ng turned down, the Dept lawyers have to sure that rejection is legally water tight and there is no opportunity for judicial review.” More details of enquiry so far.Five councillors spoke against the power station on Thursday morning, as did some members of the public. Cllr Reeves gave a very impressive speech. Was very erudite and explained logically why he, as a member of the planning committee decided to refuse planning permission for the power station despite the fact that the planning department were recommending approval. On Thursday afternoon the Biofuelwatch/Ealing FOE team cross examined Blue NG’s planning guys on air quality. Update on Thursday 11th March, 3.30pm.This afternoon Blue NG are stating their case on air quality. This will probably not finish today and continue tomorrow.
Update from Wednesday 10th March:The planning enquiry (also known as a public hearing) started on Tuesday 9th March. The enquiry may go on every day until Wednesday 17th from 10am to 5pmish. (It will break from Sat-Monday inclusive). Members of the public are free to come and watch and also to speak. If you would like to speak they can register in person at 10am any day (not just today). If you really can’t make it for 10am you may be able to register to speak during the lunch break (1-2ish) or afternoon break (around 3pm). Many members of the public have been scheduled to speak for Thursday morning. On Tuesday morning there was a protest at 9am.
On Wednesday Biofulwatch/Ealing FOE stated their case and be cross examined by Blue NG’s lawyer. After the afternoon break there was more discussion about traffic. On Thursday morning members of the public and Ealing Councillors who have registered to do so will speak. On Thursday afternoon Blue NG will continue stating their case and once they have stated their case they will be cross examined (this process may last a few days). Once Blue NG have been cross examined there will be a less formal, round table discussion about what conditions should apply should the power station be approved. Biofuelwath/Ealing FOE will contribute to this too. The last part of the enquiry will be summing up by all parties.
Appeal Means Threat that Power Station Might Still Be Built. Please Help Stop It!If you live in Ealing please take action. Click here to write to your councillors and to the planning inspector.
In September last year, the Ealing Council planning committee voted unanimously to reject Blue NG’s plans to build a biofuel burning power station in Southall. The reasons they cited included: an increase in local air pollution; an increase in traffic congestion; the fact that industrial biofuels do not solve climate change, they exacerbate it; the fact that biofuels compete with food production; and that they are linked to human rights abuses in developing countries. Blue NG have launched an appeal to overturn the Council's decision. As a result, the Planning Inspectorate will re-assess the application and make the final decision. They will review all the information which Ealing Council used to make its decision last year and will take account of further evidence submitted by the parties to the appeal. Food Not Fuel, Biofuelwatch, Ealing Friends of the Earth, and Down to Earth have formed a coalition to oppose the plans and have been granted 'rule 6 party status' giving us a status more equal to the appellant (blue NG) in the appeal. The public inquiry to examine the evidence will start at 10am on Tuesday 9th March in Ealing Town Hall . It could last up to six days. This is open to the public, and at the discretion of the Planning Inspector, members of the public may be allowed to speak. As a party to the appeal, we can call witnesses, cross examine witnesses and be cross examined at the inquiry. Your presence as a member of the public at the inquiry could help convince the planning inspector that this issue matters to local people and they want the council's decision to be upheld. Please see if you can make time to get there from 9th March onwards. We will send round more information about the timetable when we have it. As a reminder - If this power station is built:· Local air quality will get worse – to add to the growing pollution from Heathrow and from local traffic. Vegetable oil burning emits nitrogen oxides and small particulates linked to respiratory illnesses and heart problems. · Local traffic congestion will get worse, with up to six fuel tanker deliveries a day. · Global greenhouse gas levels will increase, increasing the risk of runaway climate change · People in other areas of the world, like South-east Asia and South America could be displaced from their homes to allow the necessary vegetable oil plants to be grown. · It will NOT provide local people with cheaper electricity · Apart from during the building work, it will provide few if any extra jobs If you live in Ealing please take action. Click here to write to your councillors and to the planning inspector. |
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Stop Southall Power Station |
