Safety fears over incinerator plans

Apr 17 2009 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

A CITY centre councillor has raised safety concerns over the proposed Shore Road incinerator.

Last night, a public meeting was held to discuss Grundon Waste Management’s plans to create a vast £100 million waste-to-energy plant with a 260-foot chimney between the River Tay and the South Inch parklands.

The meeting was held at Kinnoull Church under the banner of the Bridgend Gannochy and Kinnoull Community Council.

But, earlier, Councillor Peter Barrett revealed he had raised safety concerns after probing the track record of the English-based company.

He said research was prompted when local constituents raised their concerns.

Councillor Barrett, who has triggered a “Stop the Incinerator” petition, said: “I was very concerned to discover there had been a serious fire in February at another incinerator operated by Grundon and this is the subject of an ongoing investigation by the Environment Agency.”

The councillor said news reports of the fire at Grundon’s Knowl Hill incinerator near Maidenhead, described how a blaze swept through the treatment plant after a large container of carbon ignited.

Eight fire engines were required to bring the blaze under control. It raged for eight hours and fire-fighters were still on the scene the next morning.

Police closed off the plant entrance and carried out door to door visits warning householders to shut their windows to fend off smoke.

Councillor Barrett said: “Local residents complained of strong odours and a huge cloud of smoke was seen billowing out of a chimney in the stricken building.

“The fire appears to have started in one of the plant’s carbon odour abatement tanks. I note that there are several such tanks contained in the proposed incinerator for Perth.”

Councillor Barrett said the Environment Agency advised him that their investigation was still ongoing and could take a further four or five months before its findings were published.

He said: “This suggests to me that there are serious issues to be addressed.”

Councillor Barrett also revealed that Grundon’s contingency plans have been called into question by their local MP Theresa May, who observed “This was a serious incident which has understandably caused a lot of concern among local residents. The fire resulted in a loss of power at the site and a huge release of unpleasant odours which badly affected local residents. I want to know why there weren’t better contingency plans in place.”

Councillor Barrett said: “It’s disturbing that Grundon's operation is the subject of criticism by a member of parliament who also complains of considerable frustration at the ongoing problems at the Grundon site. This incident has only exacerbated these.”

lPerth and Kinross Council planners were unable to attend last night’s community council meeting at Kinnoull Church.

A council spokeswoman explained: “The council recently received a reserved matters planning application covering the detail of the proposed energy from waste plant on Shore Road.

“As this application is currently being assessed by the council’s Planning Service, it would be premature for officers to be involved in any public discussions of the proposal.”