Opponents of a proposed gasification plant north of Carlisle, which was refused planning permission, are currently seeking legal advice ahead of an expected appeal against the decision.
The controversial planning application from North-west Regeneration was for a site on land next to the former Unit D on the Kingmoor Park Rockcliffe Estate.
The firm wanted to develop an Energy from Waste facility comprising of a Solid Recovered Fuel-fed gasification plant.
The plant would heat waste at high temperatures – generally ranging from 1,200°C to 1,500°C – to break it down into a gas named syngas which can be used for electricity generation or refined into other chemicals and fuel.
But Cumberland Council rejected the plans in June, despite it being recommended for approval.
Councillors felt the evidence of the plant’s long-term health implications was unclear.
At the time a spokesman said: “This decision was made despite the planning officers’ recommendation to approve the application, 250-page report and 18 months of due diligence, and the appointment of an independent consultant called Ricardo Environmental Consulting Services to review all the documents.
“This decision was made despite the Environmental Health Department having appointed a specialist pyrolysis expert consultant to grant the SWIP environmental permit after 13 months of due diligence. The environmental permit fully complies with the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) and UK Environmental Legislation.”
This week Sally Tears, a spokeswoman for Rockcliffe and District Action Group, said they had secured the services of environmental barrister Monica Feria Tinta to represent them should there be an appeal.
She added: “Naturally we will require a great deal of funding for this but we are sure that with help from donors and public we can add to the generosity of our community who have already pledged thousands. This is why we have launched a Go Fund Me page as part of our fundraising efforts.”
Ms Tears said they were happy to take pledges from businesses and added: “We believe that this is a test case for the rest of the country. If the original decision is not upheld then this will open the door for other villages throughout the country to be targeted with unnecessary incinerators.
“We all deserve the right to breathe clean air and our children and grandchildren need to know that we fought for it for their future health.”
To find out more visit https://gofund.me/c29d1624c
