IT'S the last day for residents to have their say on major plans for a new Energy and Resource Park in Kidderminster.
Power Generation Midlands (PGM), the company set up to run the £30 million project, wants to develop an energy centre, using non-hazardous commercial and industrial waste to generate energy, and a plastics recovery plant, to turn plastic waste into a material that can then be recycled into new products, on land next to the Liberty Aluminium foundry in Stourport Road.
PGM says the park will generate low carbon energy and recover plastic waste that would otherwise end up in landfill, but campaign group Wyre Forest Against Incineration (WFAI) says it would make Wyre Forest the "Midlands epicentre of a polluting waste industry", drawing in waste and plastics for processing in the district from miles around.
Developers say the park will divert around 105,000 tonnes of waste from landfill every year, including 30,000 tonnes of plastic which could be turned into granules for new products such as garden furniture and decking.
PGM's Damian Courtney told The Shuttle in May: “The energy and resource park will take waste from the local area which is destined for landfill and, rather than burying it in the ground, we’ll use it to create low carbon energy, helping to reduce the use of fossil fuels.
"We’re also excited to be providing a solution for plastic waste which is a huge problem facing society."
As part of the plans, energy produced at the park would be used to supply electricity and heat to the foundry next door.
The park itself is expected to create 60 construction jobs and 25 permanent jobs once complete, while the power provided to Liberty Aluminium would allow the foundry to expand its operations in the town - investing £8 million and creating a further 100 jobs.
Anti-incinerator campaigners say the park would cause harmful pollution in the local area.
In October, WFAI member Dave Finch, from Friends of the Earth, said: “The incinerator will operate for years, polluting the air, adding to global warming, and destroying materials which could be put to good use. The planet cannot take any more pollution. We need to cut out waste, not burn it.”
Community activist Stephen Brown said: "The dangers are hidden and long term so by the time you’re aware of what harm it’s caused you, it’s too late. So act now to stop it.”
The group has also raised concerns about the resulting increase of lorry traffic on Kidderminster's roads.
The deadline for people to submit their views on the planning application is Thursday, October 29. Visit worcestershire.gov.uk/pawyreforest.
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