THE company behind Lostock energy from waste plant says it is studying the possibility of bringing in waste by rail.

It follows calls from Northwich councillors for the company to reduce the amount of lorry movements to and from the site.

Recently, Lostock Sustainable Energy Plant (LSEP) Ltd has come under fire for plans to increase the amount of waste it burns annually from 600,000 tonnes to 728,000.

Labour Northwich Witton councillor Sam Naylor told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “The biggest issue is the number of HGVs needed to truck in this 728,000 tonnes of waste [annually]. We are not going to stop this power plant but we can do our best to mitigate the HGV traffic as waste from all over the UK will be trucked in to Northwich.

“The best thing we can do is to go back and see why they cannot use the railway. The people delivering it did not dismiss it recently.

“We want whoever is delivering this project to work with rail authorities and not just pay lip service to it.”

Now, LSEP Ltd says it is ‘still in the process of shaping our transport strategy for LSEP and have been looking at opportunities to use non-road transport options for waste delivery’.

The spokesperson added: “As part of this, we are carrying out a specific study of how and whether transporting waste to LSEP by rail could be a sustainable part of a balanced transport strategy. 

“Our transport strategy and options for transporting waste will also be regularly reviewed during LSEP’s construction and operation, which we are also obligated to do by our planning conditions.”

The announcement follows criticism from Northwich Town Council and Rudheath Parish Council — with members of the latter body saying they were ‘incensed’ at the plans — with MPs Mike Amesbury and Esther McVey also opposed.