'˜We need more information on energy plant'

Senior councillors in Boston have backed scrutiny colleagues in calling for more information on a new 102MW power plant.

The borough council’s Cabinet agreed with their fellow members’s comments on the Boston Alternative Energy Facility planned for the River Haven.

Minutes from the scrutiny meeting, said: “Members agreed the benefits of such a development for the town of Boston.

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“They acknowledged the employment benefits it would create – both in construction and thereafter in on-going supply and maintenance.

“Consultation was agreed as being key for residents and they agreed that the additional requests for inclusion in the statement as identified, would reassure them that the scope of consultation was reasonable.”

Cabinet members agreed with the scrutiny report’s call to improve the consultation process.

Portfolio Holder for Environment and Chairman of Planning Committee Councillor David Brown, referencing air quality, said the council would not support any plant that would present any risk to the public.

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Deputy leader and portfolio holder for finance Councillor Aaron Spencer said he would like to see a pop-in information hub made available, similar to the information hub at the Boston Barrier site.

The report called on the company to include approaching younger people and to provide more information on how hazardous waste would be transported.

Documents from the organisers say the plan will contribute to Government targets.

“Currently, around three million tonnes of RDF from the UK is sent abroad to generate energy in European facilities,” they say. “The Boston Alternative Energy Facility will process approximately one million tonnes of RDF, allowing the UK to benefit through generating energy rather than lose it to continental Europe.”

The project is classed as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project, which means it will go to the Secretary of State for a decision.