No Southampton Biomass Help stop the planning application now More info
We have attempted to create a standard format for all parties and local councillors and candidates to provide a statement based on each of the main headlines. We have included our own view as below and we have then contacted the 4 main parties to invite them to respond in kind. All we have asked is any response sticks to what the particular party member or political party themselves will do rather than what others won't...
Please click on the party logo to the left (organised in alphabetical order) to jump straight to their individual councillors...
We understand the need to reduce the burning of fossil fuels and the importance of finding new 'greener' ways of generating energy. Our concern is that current UK legislation is not yet comprehensive enough to deal with the size and scale of some of the projects that are being developed by so-called 'green' energy providers and we believe that current government subsidies for renewable energy generation are being abused by projects that simply don't deserve them.
We would like to see a number of changes. When discussing carbon savings we would like to see the whole carbon cost of the project be taken into account including the construction phase of any project as in the Southampton case the 3 years of construction could represent more than 10% of the life span of the plant yet the carbon used in construction is not considered in the bigger carbon cost of the project - surely the common sense approach should be to incentivise current coal and other fossil fuel burning power stations to make the switch to UK Sourced sustainable Biofuels as this represents the best short term answer to carbon emissions whilst we can work on a long term green energy producing strategy.
We also feel that a truly 'green' project would be built around using the combined heat and power (CHP) that is generated in the energy producing process which the Helius proposal does not. This means that the heat the plant would produce would be wasted rather than put to good use. Effectively 'throwing away' usable heat is not considered good practice and is an integral part of any truly 'green' project.
The sourcing of the biomass (usually wood) is also an issue of great relevance in any truly 'green' project. The Helius proposal will source wood from all over the world, including The Americas and Africa - In fact only 20% off the biomass may be "locally" sourced! Due to in-effective and un-defined regulations on the sourcing of sustainable wood outside of the UK, there are grave concern for how the wood will be sourced and what impacts it will have the economy, ecology and the human rights of people and environments of other countries.
NO SOUTHAMPTON BIOMASS GROUP
Southampton Biomass Plans
We are completely against the Helius plans for a number of reasons including: Unsuitable location choice (too close to homes and on the gateway into the City), detriment to local air quality that is already below EU guidelines for clean air, social impact of the scheme on local residents and the questionable green credentials on a project that just doesn't add up whatever way you look at it!
UK Biomass Policy
We think there should be urgent action taken to ensure the many Biomass plants that are proposed across the country are situated in appropriate locations and are truly 'green' by 1. Ensuring all plants are fully CHP to ensure the highest possible efficiency - 2. All biomass fuel should be locally sourced so the UK can remain in full control of sustainability issues, future fuel supplies and ensure we get as close to carbon neutral as possible - 3. More thought needs to be given to the impact on Biomass to other wood related industries that could be affected by the increasing demand on Biofuels 4. The location of any power station proposal should have minimal impact or effect on communities living close to the plant and should be sensitively integrated into the landscape.
Statement to follow...
FREEMANTLE WARDS BRIAN PARNELLl, MICHAEL BALL & JEREMY MOULTON (Pictured - Cabinet Member & Deputy Leader of the Conservative group)
Southampton Biomass Plans
We are campaigning hard against the power station, attending public meetings and knocking doors encouraging local people to write in and object. We have objected formally to Helius and the IPC and we will fight the scheme all the way-
UK Biomass Policy
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LINDA NORRIS (pictured) & ANDY WELLS CONSERVATIVE COUNCILLORS FOR MILLBROOK WARD
Southampton Biomass Plans
We are totally against having a Biomass Power Station of this magnitude on a site so close to residential land.
The size and mass of this development, covering as it does a 20 acre site, would destroy the character of the area.
Helius have said that they will reduce it in size, however we haven't seen any plans as yet and it is my belief that it will still be too close to a residential area.
Questions regarding the sustainability of the wood source, the potential problems with air quality (in an area known to be substandard), the lack of a plan to capture the heat, the potential benefit to the community and traffic consequences (both during & after construction) remain to be answered.
In view of all of these points, we will continue to oppose this development and will continue to fight it for our residents of Millbrook Ward in particular and indeed for our City which will also suffer the consequences of this monstrous proposition.
UK Biomass Policy
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Although biofuels come from plants they are not a ‘green' solution. Growing, transporting and burning biofuels has devastating effects on people and the environment both in the UK and around the world. Governments need to invest in more efficient use of energy and commit to investing in clean renewables like wind, solar and tidal power.
KEITH TAYLOR SOUTH EAST MEP
Southampton Biomass Plans
The growing number of planned biomass and biofuel power stations in the UK is alarming and is based on the UK government’s misguided view that biofuels are the answer.
Burning biomass increases CO2 emissions and creates air pollution, increasing the risk of respiratory and heart disease. The proposed site in Southampton is next to an Air Quality Management Area which has been set up to monitor and tackle high levels of air pollution. Transporting biofuels to the site and burning biofuels will only make this problem worse and will have a negative impact on the health of local residents.
In the developing world the production of biomass and biofuels leads to deforestation, a loss of biodiversity, higher world food prices, increasing starvation and the destruction of people’s livelihoods. Relying on biofuels to solve our energy crisis simply dumps the problem on developing countries.
Worryingly the application from Helius Energy doesn’t include any binding policy commitment on what is burnt or where the biomass is sourced. This means that Helius could change the fuels it burns after planning consent is granted. This has happened in other places and is a worrying loophole which gives Southampton City Council very little control over what is burnt on the doorsteps of their residents.
UK Biomass Policy
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CHRIS BLUEMEL (Co-ordinator, South West Hampshire Green Party)
Southampton Biomass Plans
I echo the words of the Green MEP Keith Taylor when he visited the area in March. This is a dreadful scheme with major environmental impacts both locally and nationally. I am delighted that there is so much opposition to the scheme from within the local community, as it makes the case against it so much stronger.
In contrast to the claims made by Helius Energy, generating electricity by burning hundreds of thousands of tonnes of imported wood is the antithesis of sustainability. Across the world, natural forests are being displaced by vast industrial tree plantations to supply demand for biofuels and biomass, mainly in Europe. This will result in the loss of biodiversity and a net release of carbon into the atmosphere which cannot be offset by new trees within the timescale needed to tackle climate change.
The local impacts will be a vast development with an 80m chimney stack towering over Freemantle, and an increase in air pollution. The company's claims that air pollution will be within limits cannot be reconciled with the fact that the limits are already being breached before it is even built. There are likely also to be impacts from the release of cooling water into the Test estuary, a major site of wildlife interest.
The real answer to our energy needs lies in a major investment in energy efficiency measures and in real renewable energy infrastructure. The offshore wind farm about to be build in the channel demonstrates the potential that exists for genuinely sustainable sources of energy.
UK Biomass Policy
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Southampton Biomass Plans
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UK Biomass Policy
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Statement to follow...
ASA THORPE (pictured) & DAVE FURNELL LABOUR CANDIDATE & COUNCILLOR FOR MILLBROOK
Southampton Biomass Plans
We have never welcomed the plans to build a power station next to our community.
Over the past few months we have been working to raise awareness of the proposals by energy company Helius to build a biomass power station in Millbrook. We've attended public meetings, exhibitions and asked questions of the Council about the scheme. We've also been going door to door, talking with local residents face to face and asking for their views.
We've LISTENED - here's what you told us:
- Helius have failed to address residents’ concerns about the size of the proposed development; increased congestion; and the overall impact on our community.
- Residents are angry about the lack of information being put out about the plans by Helius.
We said we'd LISTEN and ACT on what you told us. Here's what we're going to do:
- We'll be making a formal submission to the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) calling on them to reject the Helius proposals.
- Lobby Ministers in Parliament.
- We'll ask the IPC to look at whether potential alternative sites for the plant have been properly explored.
- Work with the community!
Of course we’ll continue to support efforts to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, but we do not feel that the plant proposed by Helus will achieve this end.
We deserve the truth and honest people LISTENING and ACTING on our behalf. We believe people whose homes and communities would be affected by these proposals deserve better than that.
Please click here to visit Asa's personal blog
UK Biomass Policy
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MARY LLOYD LABOUR PARTY CANDIDATE FOR FREEMANTLE
Southampton Biomass Plans
I've been very concerned about Helius' failure to inform residents fully about their plans for a power station at the bottom of Foundry Lane.
When I heard, with just 2 days' notice, that they were planning a 'public consultation' 3 days later in Shirley Road without informing any Freemantle residents, I personally delivered a letter to 200 residents closest to the site, letting them know about this consultation. The three Labour Party candidates for Redbridge, Millbrook and Freemantle were there, and we listened carefully that evening to the immediate reactions of residents.
Since then, attending public meetings and listening to the views of hundreds of residents, I rapidly came to the firm conclusion that this is the wrong scheme in the wrong place.
Discussions with the NO SOUTHAMPTON BIOMASS campaign, and with Alan Whitehead, our MP, have convinced me that biomass plants need a truly local and sustainable fuel source. This often means that they need to be smaller than Helius' proposed plant, and carefully placed to protect residents from noise- light- and air-pollution. Providing access to the 'waste product' – HEAT - is also essential.
I continue to support the 'NO' campaign actively, and am delighted that the Labour Party in Southampton has taken such a strong stance against Helius' proposed development – in defence of the health and well-being of ALL Southampton residents.
UK Biomass Policy
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Southampton Biomass Plans
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CLLR ADRIAN VINSON - LEADER, SOUTHAMPTON CITY COUNCIL LIBERAL DEMOCRAT GROUP
Southampton Biomass Plans
Southampton City Council Liberal Democrat councillors are unanimously opposed to the proposed Helius Biomass plant.
We believe dependence on imported fuel makes the environmental, carbon reduction, balance highly questionable and potentially negative in view of the volumes of material required, transportation impact and potential interruption of supplies.
In the absence of connection to Combined Heat and Power the benefit to Southampton residents and their environment is likely to be negligible.
The massing and design of the proposed plant is an eyesore and a blot on the landscape for a significant number of residents.
We are therefore committed to campaigning against the scheme, including opposing the planning application
UK Biomass Policy
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Southampton Biomass Plans
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UK Biomass Policy
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Southampton Biomass Plans
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