Power stations pose ‘no risk’

The investigation began after Coun Chris Underwood-Frost was concerned that nearby coal-fired power stations produce radioactive waste which is often linked with high cancer levels.

Now, a Task and Finish Group set up by West Lindsey District Council has reported that air quality in the town has been monitored since 2001 and pollution levels have always been within national guidelines.

Chairman of the Task and Finish Group Coun Jeff Summers said: “We received evidence from NHS Lincolnshire which said that emissions from West Burton power station are within prescribed limits.”

“The Environment Agency regulates emissions from power stations and limit total particulate concentrations to 25 milligrams per cubic metre of flue gas. The actual concentrations emitted from West Burton are well below this limit and are typically in the range of three and six milligrams.”

He added: “The overall finding was that the emissions have no significant impact on air quality and the Health Protection Agency said the emissions posed no significant health hazard.”

Coun Underwood-Frost said he was pleased with the results but would continue to look into it.

“I still want to know about pollutants in general and an answer as to why a rural area like West Lindsey has similar cancer rates to large cities where we know there is exposure to lots of pollutants,” he said.

A WLDC spokesman said that the investigations found that cancer rates in the district were in line with the rest of the county and the rate for lung cancer was lower than the average for the East Midlands and England.