PLANS to burn 250,000 tonnes of incinerator ash into aggregate have been delayed after fears that clouds of dust could endanger residents’ health.

At a Strategic Planning Meeting on Tuesday (December 20) Cheshire West and Chester councillors deferred their decision on Covanta Energy’s application to build a bottom ash aggregate plant on Ince Marshes.

If approved the plant, at Ince Resource and Recovery Park, would turn 250,000 tonnes of incinerator ash into a reusable aggregate, but fears that the dust could harm residents health prompted councillors to consider monitoring the air for hazardous particles.

Speaking at the planning meeting, councillors pointed out that although there was a possibility that dust could escape from the plant, no consideration had been given to Helsby which was downwind.

Speaking on behalf of Helsby Parish Council, Cllr Sarah Temple said that the effect on the well-being of the community in Helsby should be monitored.

Councillors also argued an air quality assessment had not considered emissions of very small particulates or their impact outside the site.

Frodsham ward and CWaC Cllr Lynn Riley commented that the marshes were windy enough for wind turbines but not, it appeared, windy enough to disturb the stockpiles.

She believed it could not be guaranteed that the ash being brought in did not contain noxious material, saying: “I think we should be more demanding.

“It would not be unreasonable for the storage to be covered.”

But speaking on behalf of the applicant, agent Mr Nick Thompson, said the bottom ash would be non hazardous waste, containing glass, brick, rubble, metal and slag, and that the plant would be an integral part of the recovery park which would have ‘no unacceptable impact on the environment or on local residents’.

Cllr John Grimshaw (Con) believed the council should not have to rely entirely on the Environment Agency as to emissions and agreed with the parish council that a monitoring station should be installed in Helsby.

He said: “Residents will be seeking reassurances there are no risks,” adding that there was ‘no doubt’ that on a windy day there would be dust.

Development planning manager Fiona Edwards suggested information should be sought as to the practice at other locations and the committee agreed to defer a decision.

The fate of the Bottom Ash Aggregate Plant will be decided following the publication of a report in February next year.