The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change has called a public inquiry to be held into the application for his consent to construct and operate a wind turbine generating station at Frodsham Canal Deposit Grounds, Cheshire. He has also decided that a pre-inquiry meeting should be held.
A pre-inquiry meeting was held at the Holiday Inn, Runcorn, Wood Lane, Beechwood, Runcorn, WA7 3HA on Wednesday 14 September 2011.
The Public Inquiry is scheduled to commence at the same venue at 10.00 on Tuesday 22 November 2011.
The Statement of Matters
Rule 4(1)(c) of the Inquiry Rules requires the Secretary of State, in giving notice that an inquiry is to be held. To provide a statement of the matters which, in his view, are the matters to be considered at the inquiry.
In the view of the Secretary of State, on the information so far available to him, the following matters, which appear to him likely to be relevant to his consideration of the proposed development, are the matters to be considered at the inquiry:
(1) the extent to which the proposed development would be in accordance with the relevant development plan(s) for the area;
(2) the extent to which the proposed development would be in accordance with the guidance in the Vale Royal Borough Council supplementary planning documents;
(3) the extent to which the proposed development is consistent with the objectives of the Government’s policy on the energy mix and maintaining a secure and reliable supply of electricity as the UK makes the transition to a low carbon economy, and achieving climate change goals;
(4) the proposed development’s impact on the Green Belt and whether this can be justified;
(5) the visual impact of the proposed development;
(6) the impacts of the proposed development on wildlife interests of international, national and local importance and whether its construction and operation would be consistent with applicable wildlife protection legislation;
(7) the impact of the proposed development on the Promontory fort on Helsby Hill (Scheduled Ancient Monument) and its setting;
(8) the impact of the proposed development on local amenity due to noise generated by its operation;
(9) any risk associated with the proposed development’s proximity to the existing COMAH regulated sites, GrowHow UK Ltd and Ineos ChlorVinyls;
(10) the impact on radar at Liverpool John Lennon Airport and Hawarden Airport;
(11) any other matter that the Inspector considers relevant.
Proposed 60MW Energy From Waste (Biomass) Generating Station Inquiry, Lostock, Cheshire
This page has been drafted and is the responsibility of Helen Wilson, Programme Officer for the Inquiry. Helen is an impartial officer of the Inquiry and works under the direction of the Inspector, Ms Elizabeth Hill BSc(Hons) BPhil MRTPI.
Contact details
Before the start of the Inquiry Helen can be contacted:
Contact details during the Inquiry will be posted here in due course.
Venue, Dates and Times
The Public Inquiry will commence on Tuesday 11 October 2011 at 10.00 am at Northwich Victoria Football Club, Wincham Avenue, Wincham, Northwich, Cheshire CW9 6GB and is currently scheduled to last for 3 weeks.
The Inquiry will normally sit Tuesday-Thursday 10.00 am to 5.00 pm with an hour for lunch and short breaks morning and afternoon and on Fridays 9.30 am to 3.00 pm.
Location information on the Football Club is available at Directions to the Victoria Stadium.
The venue is fully accessible to the disabled, but anyone with specific needs is asked to contact the Programme Officer.
Full details, including notes of the pre-inquiry meeting, can be found on the Programme Officer Services Limited website.
Proposed energy from waste generating station, Lostock, Northwich, Cheshire
to be known as Brunner Mond
The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change has called a public inquiry to be held into the application for his consent to construct and operate an energy from a waste generating station on land formerly occupied by the Lostock power station, Lostock, Northwich, Cheshire. He has also decided that a pre-inquiry meeting should be held.
The pre-inquiry meeting is to be held at the Executive Lounge, Northwich Victoria Football Club, Wincham Avenue, Wincham, Northwich, Cheshire CW9 6GB, at 11am on Tuesday 26 July 2011.
The public inquiry is scheduled to commence at the same venue at 10am on Tuesday 11 October 2011.
Anyone who wishes to participate in the inquiry should complete the registration form below and return it along with two copies of their outline statement (a written statement of the principal submissions they wish to make). Hard copies of the form are available upon request – contact details are given on the form.
The Statement of Matters
Rule 4(1)(c) of the Inquiry Rules requires the Secretary of State, in giving notice that an inquiry is to be held, must provide a statement of the matters which, in his view, are the matters to be considered at the inquiry.
In the view of the Secretary of State, on the information so far available to him, the following matters – which appear to him likely to be relevant to his consideration of the proposed development – are the matters to be considered at the inquiry:
- the extent to which the proposed development would be in accordance with the relevant development plan(s) for the area, and in particular policies 1, 2, 3 and 34A of the Cheshire Replacement Waste Local Plan (2007);
- the extent to which the proposed development will maximise the opportunities for waste to be managed in accordance with the waste hierarchy, minimise avoidable carriage of waste over long distances, and take advantage, where practicable, of opportunities to transport waste by rail and water;
- the extent to which a need for the proposed development as a means of managing waste has been demonstrated, in particular by reference to the capacity of existing waste management facilities in the sub-region;
- the extent to which the proposed development is consistent with the objectives of the Government’s policy on the energy mix and maintaining a secure and reliable supply of electricity as the UK makes the transition to a low-carbon economy, and achieving climate change goals;
- concerns about perceived health impacts of the proposed development;
- the impact of construction and operational traffic associated with the proposed development on the local highways, including users and safety;
- the visual impact of the proposed development;
- the cumulative impact of the proposed development with other proposed and operational developments of a similar nature within the region;
- the proximity of the proposed development to residential dwellings and other non-industrial units;
- any other matter that the Inspector considers relevant.
Registration
Anyone who wishes to participate in the inquiry should complete the registration form and return it along with two copies of their outline statement (a written statement of the principal submissions they wish to make). Hard copies of the form are available upon request (contact details are given on the form).
A conjoined public inquiry and Necessary Wayleave Hearing was held between 8 and 11 March 2011 into Western Power Distribution (South Wales) plc's application to replace and reposition one steel lattice tower supporting an existing 132kV overhead electricity line in a residential area on the outskirts of Swansea.
The Secretary of State granted Section 37 consent and deemed planning permission under section 90(2) of Town and Country Planning Act on 4 August 2011. Application for a Necessary Wayleave associated with this development was also made by Western Power Distribution (South Wales) Plc. A grant of the Necessary Wayleave was made by the Secretary of State under paragraph 6 of schedule 4 of the Electricity Act 1989 on 4 August 2011.
Application to the Secretary of State for an award of costs by Western Power Distribution (South Wales) plc
Western Power Distribution (South Wales) Plc made an application for the full costs of the inquiry proceedings to the Secretary of State. This application was considered by the Secretary of State in exercise of his powers under section 250(5) of the Local Government Act 1972 and section 62 and in light of the Inspectors' recommendations following inquiry and DoE and Welsh Office Circular WO 23/93 and CLG's Circular 03/2009. The Secretary of State decided a full award of costs against the City and County of Swansea Council is justified and his formal costs order was made on 4 August 2011.
Proposed wind turbine generating station at land near Kirkwhelpington, Northumberland
to be known as Steadings Wind Farm
and
Proposed wind turbine generating station at Ray Estate, Northumberland
to be known as Ray Wind Farm
A joint public inquiry was held between January and December 2008. The inquiry also considered the proposed wind turbine generating station on land at Green Rigg Fell, Birtley, to be known as Green Rigg wind farm. The then Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government determined the appeal and consent was granted on 25 March 2010.
Following the public inquiry, on the 25 March 2010, the then Secretary of State for DECC refused consent for the Steadings Wind Farm.
On 11 November 2010, the Secretary of State for DECC granted consent for the Ray Wind Farm.
Further information
You can find more information on the Ministry for Justice: The UK Statute Law Database electricity generating stations and overhead lines (inquiries procedure) (England and Wales) rules 2007 webpage, or download it here: