A Danish renewable energy company has set its sights on Northwich as the home for a new waste treatment plant.

DONG Energy, which last year generated a turnover of nearly £6.4billion, want to build a bioresource facility called REnescience Northwich on part of the Lostock Works site.

The proposed facility will produce biogas and generate around 5MW of renewable electricity, in addition to materials for recycling.

A spokesman for DONG Energy explained: “Using DONG Energy’s patented ‘REnescience’ technology, the facility will recover resources from waste and generate renewable electricity through treatment with enzymes, mechanical sorting and anaerobic digestion.

“The facility does not involve incineration.”

'Here we go again'

But local campaigner and resident Liam Byrne is concerned that Northwich is being targeted by corporations, citing E.ON Energy from Waste and Tata Chemicals Europe’s energy from waste plant which was granted planning consent by the energy secretary in 2012.

“Here we go again,” he said.

“Yet another foreign-owned corporation that thinks it would be a great idea to lug garbage from around the UK to Northwich for so called ‘treatment’.

“The residents of Lostock and Rudheath and the other nearby suburbs will surely be up in arms at the prospect, not only of air pollution, but also the huge increase in large diesel HGV traffic on local roads.

“Absolutely frightening, particularly if you are the parent or guardian of one of the thousand or so children who attend the nurseries and schools that are located less than half a mile from the plants.

Aim to be a good neighbour

The DONG Energy spokesman added that they ‘want and aim’ to be a good neighbour and has encouraged residents to take a look at the plans at two upcoming public exhibitions.

“We do appreciate that local residents will have concerns about the proposed facility at Northwich and lots of questions for us,” he said.

“We both want and aim to be a good neighbour; we are consulting communities to find out what people think of our proposal and any suggestions they have for improvements.”

The exhibitions will be held at Lostock Gralam Community Centre between 2pm and 6.45pm on July 9, Lostock Sports and Social Club between 10am and 4pm on July 11, and Rudheath Sports and Social Club between 2pm and 7.30pm on July 14.

Comments can also be sent to northwich@dongenergy.co.uk or in writing to PO Box 357, Saltash, PL12 9AQ by the August 16 deadline.

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