We will fight eco power station plan

1:22pm Monday 9th June 2008

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A HUGE "eco-friendly" power station is being planned for Crays Hill.

Energy supplier, KTI Energy, wants to build the plant, which would burn timber to generate electricity, on 17-acres of farmland off Gardiners Lane North.

The company has written to landowner, farmer Joseph Winterbone, saying it wants the field and has been in talks with the East of England Development Agency and contacted the Department of Food and Rural Affairs.

Mr Winterbourne confirmed KTI Energy had written to him and sent images of a power station, including maps showing where it would go.

But he insisted he was not interested in selling "at the moment".

Sally Aungier's house would be right next to the plant if it were built. She said: "Under no circumstances do we want this here.

"It would be right next door to me. The Dale Farm traveller site is the same distance away in the opposite direction and now they want this."

John Strutt, a neighbour from Gardiners Lane North, unearthed the plans after EDF energy wrote to him and Mr Winterbourne about running an electricity cable across their adjoining land.

He said: "It was nothing to do with the power station, but I went to see Mr Winterbourne about it and he showed me separate letters which were. I made it 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."

His wife Marian said: "If the Government wants it here, it is a big worry. Crays Hill seems to get stuck with all the problems."

Development agency spokesman Nicholas Benham confirmed discussions about the project had taken place with KTI Energy. He said: "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."

Jonathan Farr, Defra spokesman, said the company frequently wrote to the department, but said it was not discussing the project and was unlikely to support it.

Chris Johnson, Basildon Council spokesman, said: "We have not had any formal discussions with this company and no planning application has been received."

Dr Bill Temple-Pediani, who jointly runs KTI Energy's UK operation, has also contacted EDF Energy, which owns a nearby electricity sub-station. EDF believes the plant is feasible, but would need its own dedicated access road from Gardiners Lane South.

David McPherson-Davis, Ramsden Crays Parish Council chairman, 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."