Ludlow Town Council objects to plans for green waste recycling plant

Shropshire Council’s proposal, submitted last month, is to turn a former anaerobic digester into a unit producing biochar, a form of charcoal.

The installation at the Ludlow Business Park site, off Coder Road, will allow the creation of biochar from imported green waste, wood, and compost oversize materials. It is part of a £2 million investment that the council is putting into locally manufactured biochar-producing pyrolysis plants, with the first one being built by Woodtek Engineering Ltd on Caebardd Farm in Powys.

In a planning statement, Tony Higgins, from EnviroConsult, who are working alongside the council, said the impacts caused by the biochar production process include dust, odours, and noise. However, these will all be mitigated, he said.

All modes of operation of the site have been assessed and the impacts are compliant with World Health Orgnization (WHO) daytime and nighttime guidance,” said Mr Higgins.

The consultant added that an onsite survey carried out by Redmore Environmental failed to identify any significant species of concern.

However, when discussing the plans at a meeting on Tuesday (February 11), members of Ludlow Town Council said they remained unconvinced.

“They did a survey on the effects of birds and breeding, and apparently it was done during the day and they heard what the birds were doing,” said Councillor Beverley Waite.

“I would like there to be a better survey. We have three SSSI’s (Sites of Special Scientific Interest) in the area. They say, ‘we think it will not do any damage’.

“Well ‘don’t think’ is not good enough. If there is going to be any environmental damage , we need it to be looked at again.”

Members are also concerned that the study supplied in the application used virgin feedstock, so does not adequately consider the environmental implications to using food garden waste derived feedstock that was mentioned, while sulphur dioxide levels could create unpleasant smells.

The impact of increased traffic in Parrys Road was also highlighted.

“They will be coming at 8 o’clock in the morning with two great lorries, and that will absolutely murder the people who live in the houses around there,” said Councillor Viv Parry.

One person who has lodged an objection is Hilary Bufton, saying that the previous biodigester caused problems when it was operating.

“It is surely clear that this sort of facility should not be created in a built up area so close to residential homes,” said Mrs Bufton.

“There have been so many examples of similar applications being permittted and then causing problems which residents find almost impossible to counter.”

Anyone who wishes to comment about the plans (reference 25/00309/FUL) by February 26.