Open letter to Andy Burnham

RE: More toxic Greater Manchester air looms.

I am extremely disappointed that you can boast about the new European Regional Development Fund loan that the Greater Manchester Combined Authority will lend to developers who will use it to provide biomass burning heat and power schemes and Energy from Waste projects.

I know that you know that such schemes will emit airborne carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter, volatile organic compounds and heavy metals that will have a serious ill-health impact on the local population.

You have just run Greater Manchester Clean Air Day and will also run a green summit which recognises the already over-polluted air in the Greater Manchester region.

In fact, recent reports say that Manchester’s air is now more polluted than London’s air.

I am appealing to you to pledge not to use this European fund for supporting biomass schemes and energy from waste projects in Greater Manchester.

I also request that you declare Greater Manchester a biomass free zone.

Peter Kilvert

Chairman

Breathe Clean Air Group