Work set to begin on new waste plant road

Work on the access road to the site of the proposed plant at Bolton Road in Manvers is due to begin on Monday, September 10 and will mean a 700-metre stretch of bridleway being closed for six months.

The mechanical biological treatment and anaerobic digestion facility is due to open in 2015 and will handle black bin household waste from three authorities – Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham.

In April last year, Shanks Waste Solutions and Scottish and Southern Energy, which together formed the company 3SE, were selected as the preferred developers for the plant, which is being funded with £77.4m of Government cash.

A spokesman for the Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham Waste Partnership said yesterday the closure of the bridleway was for safety reasons while the construction work was carried out.

“Access to the site involves the construction of a new bridge and the regrading of the bridleway,” he said. “Alternative routes for pedestrians and horse riders will be via Bolton Road and Houndhill Road. At the end of the final closure period, the bridleway will be returned to its former condition.”

Shanks’ capital delivery director, Nigel Catling, added: “We apologise for any inconvenience caused but the closure is to ensure public safety during this key part of the construction period, an issue of paramount importance to us.”

According to Shanks, when the facility is operational, it will lead to a saving equivalent to 114,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.

It will first remove materials that can be re-used or recycled – such as metals, glass, plastics and compost – from the household waste.

Remaining waste would be “biodried” and turned into fuel to be burned at the Ferrybridge power station, near Knottingley.