Davyhulme waste plant technology under scrutiny of boffins

Both Peel Energy and campaigners opposing the firms plans for a biomass powered waste incinerator in Davyhulme have welcomed the announcement by the Health Protection Agency that it's in discussion with scientists at Imperial College London for a ‘complex study’ in to birth outcomes of infants born in proximity to such types of industrial processes.

While the health watchdog maintains it does not believe incineration poses a danger to human health, it says it knows there continues to be concern among the public around the issue.

But members of the Breathe Clean Air Group, set up to oppose Peel Energy’s plans for a biomass fuelled power station, have welcomed the development: “This new study is long overdue,” said the group’s chairman Pete Kilvert. “Now we can find out if incinerators have the potential to cause illness, disease and premature death, including asthma, cancer and still-births, as we have claimed.

“Some supporters of the Davyhulme incinerator have based their support on outdated information,” he added.

Peel Energy also welcomed the proposals. Jon England, project director, added: “We understand the HPA’s position is that well run and regulated modern municipal waste incinerators are not a significant risk to public health, and we welcome any further work by the body to reconfirm this position.

“We’re confident the results of such a study will reassure the public that facilities such as the proposed Barton Renewable Energy Plant are safe and pose no threat to public health.“ The HPA, which have given the green light in for the Barton plant - expected to be heard by Trafford planners shortly - said: “The HPA continually seeks to review and extend the evidence base on which it bases its advice. For these reasons we are in discussions with researchers at Imperial College London about a potential study into birth outcomes around municipal waste incinerators and a detailed proposal for what would be a complex study is being drawn up.”