Protesters defeated in battle to halt straw-burning power plant

East Riding councillors gave the controversial biomass plant the go-ahead, despite protests from hundreds of people.

The largely straw-burning plant will be built on the site of a former turkey farm at Gameslack Farm, close to Fimber and Wetwang.

More than 60 residents squeezed into the main chamber at County Hall to hear a lengthy debate.

But in the end councillors voted nine to six in favour.

The spectre of going to appeal if they refused the application played on some councillors minds. Last year another straw-burning plant at Tansterne, in Holderness, less than a mile from the villages of Flinton and Aldbrough, was given the green light by then Communities Secretary Hazel Blears, following a public inquiry.

Leading support for the plant was Coun Paul Robinson (Howdenshire, Conservative) who said he preferred it to a more obtrusive wind farm.

He reminded colleagues that at Tansterne they'd had four grounds for refusal.

But despite this developers won at appeal. He said: "When we look at this application I can't find the same objections – the road network is good, it's in the centre of a good catchment area for many materials and for the most part it will be hidden."

Other members, however, questioned the plant's green credentials and whether there was enough straw to support it. Some 70 per cent of the feedstock is supposed to be locally-sourced straw against 30 per cent from other materials including wood chip, short rotation coppice or miscanthus (giant grass).

Coun Charles Bayram (Howdenshire, Conservative) was doubtful: "We have a pelleting plant at Goole that's stopped producing pellets because there isn't the straw."

Others questioned the fact that there is no end user for the heat and the impact of quarrying 310,000 tonnes of chalk from the site to accommodate the plant.

Independent councillor John Whittle, who represents North Holderness, said: "This is supposed to be an environmentally sound application. How can you equate removing all that chalk for a piddly 12mw of energy?"

Coun Bryan Pearson (St Mary's, Conservative) also objected – saying there might be no need for the "piecemeal development" happening throughout the country with the development of other fuels like clean coal.

Afterwards Andrew McCormack, who spoke against the application on behalf of villagers, said they were disappointed with the result. But they would be keeping a close eye on developers, who will have to stick to more than 45 conditions.

The proposals divided opinion, with nearly 80 letters supporting the application and nearly 200 against.

Other concerns included the influx of heavy goods vehicles on rural roads and fears about pollution from the 92ft high chimney.

Two public meeting to discuss the project attracted more than 100 people.

East Yorkshire Power said the plant would give the country another source of renewable energy. It would also bring economic benefits to the area, create 10 full-time jobs and provide business opportunities for farmers, hauliers and contractors.

Yorkshire Forward backed the proposals. They said as well as people employed directly at the plant, a further 40 jobs would be created in logistics and bringing in the feedstock.

They added: "The plant will also provide local farmers supplying straw with a secure long term income, aiding the safeguarding of jobs in the agricultural sector."