Power Station Plans Are Another Blow For Crays Hill Residents
| Published: 17th June 2008 13:59 |
If residents of Crays Hill didn't have enough on their plates with the ongoing efforts to have illegal travellers moved off of the Dale Farm site, it seems their next battle is already on its way.
t has been revealed that energy company, KTI Energy, is looking to build an "eco-friendly" power station on a 17 acre area of farmland at Gardiners Lane North, where timber would be burnt in order to generate electricity.
It is understood that the company has already approach the owner of the land, Joseph Winterbourne, with plans and images of the proposed station, but Mr Winterbourne has indicated that he is not interested in selling the land at the present time.
"disastrous"
The plans were revealed when Gardiners Lane North resident, John Strutt, was approached by EDF Energy in relation to electricity cables being run across his land. Knowing that the cables would also cross Mr Winterbourne's property he went to see Mr Winterbourne about the letter. It was then that he was shown separate correspondence from KTI relating to their plans for the land. Mr Strutt explained "I made the situation public because people have a right to know. It would have a disastrous effect on the immediate area, with lorries running the other side of my hedge". Marian Strutt, his wife, added "If the Government wants it here, it is a big worry. Crays Hill seems to get stuck with all the problems."
A spokesman for the East of England Development Agency, also confirmed that they had been approached by KTI Energy about the proposal and stated that "While EEDA supports sustainable development, of which bio-projects are an important component, EEDA has made no specific commitment of support to this particular company."
"unlikely to support it"
Meanwhile Jonathan Farr, a spokesman for the Department of Food and Rural Affairs, said KTI frequently wrote to the department, but added that at present, it was not discussing this project. He added that Defra would be "unlikely to support it".
Finally, Basildon Council revealed that to date it had not entered into formal discussions with KTI and nor had it received a planning application, while David McPherson-Davis, the chairman of Ramsden Crays Parish Council said: "This is of great concern. Something like this should not be near where people are living and we would not like it near our parish."
