PLANNING officers have recommended councillors refuse permission for a renewable energy company to build a facility to create electricity from food waste in Nash.
The proposal to build an anaerobic digestion facility on land to the north of the former anti-aircraft gun emplacement off Broadstreet Common will go before Newport City Council planning committee on Wednesday.
Officers have recommended it is refused due to its rural location, its assessment of alternative and preferable urban sites, flooding, the landscape impact and its potential impact on archaeology.
The proposal, submitted by Usk Renewable Energy Ltd, would involve the construction of a new crossing/bridge over St Julian’s Reen to give access, a site office, storage tanks, a reception building, a rainwater lagoon and power plant equipment.
The developer anticipates the site would operate six days a week from Monday to Saturday, 7am-6pm on weekdays and 8am-2pm on Saturday and would generate electricity from farm slurry and commercial food waste. About 10 people will be employed at the site.
The anaerobic digestion process involves bacteria breaking down organic material in the absence of oxygen to produce methane and a residue that can be used as agricultural fertiliser.
Neighbours who responded to the application expressed concern that the proposal will adversely affect the rural character of the area, that pollution from the plant will impact on people’s health and that the proposal will be harmful to local fauna and flora.
Nash Community Council objects to the proposal claiming that 70 per cent of residents are against it, there will be an odour nuisance as evidenced at other digesters around the UK, there is a risk of water pollution and the site is close to residential properties. The council also said in its response to the application that Nash already has a waste water treatment works that has caused odour nuisance and sludge spillages in the highway, claiming this facility will accept cow slurry from up to 25 miles away and will exacerbate existing issues.
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