MORE than 200 people packed the council chamber at an extraordinary meeting of Trafford Council on controversial plans to build a biomass plant in Davyhulme. 


Last night's meeting  was called after Trafford Labour group tabled a motion to oppose the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles’, decision to allow Peel Energy to build the Barton Renewable Energy Plant (BREP).


No one from Peel spoke at the meeting, but the company has previously said the £70m proposal would generate renewable electricity for at least 25 years and benefit the local economy.


The Conservative-controlled council, after seeking advice from its lawyers, has since taken the decision to appeal the ruling and has served papers to the High Court.


Speaking at the meeting, Breathe Clean Air Group (BCAG) chairman Pete Kilvert, spoke of the groups concerns about the health impacts of the plant on residents, especially as Davyhulme is already in an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA).


“We would be stuck with this for 25 years, we are fighting this for our children and our grandchildren,” he added.


Councillors from all political persuasions praised BCAG for its dedication and hard work in opposing BREP.


Labour group leader, Cllr David Acton, said: “The decision disregards the Government’s own policy of localism, if localism means anything it means listening to local people.”


He added: “We stand together shoulder to shoulder in this battle and we will fight with everything we have and we will fight to win.”


Leader of the Council, Cllr Matt Colledge, added that it was with ‘absolute and complete’ disappointment that the council heard of Eric Pickles decision and the needs of the people of Trafford need to be put above party political considerations.