BRUNNER Mond’s application for an energy from waste plant has been met with incessant opposition from some residents and councillors.

The proposed Lostock Gralam plant would generate both electrical and heat energy in the form of steam and process 600,000 tonnes of pre-treated waste and biomass.

Operated by E.ON, the ‘worst case scenario’ would involve 262 HGV movements per day, with an expected creation of 50 jobs.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) received objections to the application from almost 4,000 people, and support from 284 persons.

Numerous concerns include the impact upon the traffic and road network, proximity to residential areas, health implications, visual impact and the over capacity of waste treatment facilities in the area.

Ward councillors George Miller and Mark Stocks declared their opposition to incineration in their respective election pledges and both had strong feelings towards the proposal and applicant.

At the meeting of the Strategic Planning Committee, on Thursday, councillors and residents joined to express their views.

Clr Miller slammed the soda ash manufacturer’s integrity in relation to its collection of dossiers about council members, and said he never intended to sit on the planning board.

“I have always taken the view that is how i would best represent local interests,” he said.

“For Brunner Mond to question my judgement is nothing short of trying to influence the democratic process.”

Referring to the application, Clr Miller raised the issues of the impact on the traffic in the area and raised the collision statistics on Middlewich Road.

He added: “Just when the local residents reach their recycling target they are rewarded with 600,000 tonnes of waste.”

Clr Mark Stocks echoed the concerns of Clr Miller relating to Brunner Mond’s ‘distasteful’ methods.

“I believe that clandestine approach to policy is totally inappropriate in democracy today,” he added.

Clr Stocks said that the application did not demonstrate a suitable transport plan for moving waste in and out of the site.

He also questioned why Brunner Mond was not making a contribution to Northwich Vision regeneration.

“I do not believe Cheshire should become the waste capital of the county - this application is not wanted by residents of Lostock Gralam, Rudheath and Witton and Northwich in general.”

And members of the public made their views crystal clear at the February meeting of the Strategic Planning Committee on Thursday, where members objected to the plans.

Youngster Ashley Bannister, representing the youth of Cheshire, urged the committee to reject the plan.

CHAIN member Brian Cartwright and residents Julie Green and Tracy Manfredi also voiced their objections.

At the meeting, Martin Ashcroft, managing director at Brunner Mond, said: “The application is for long term investment for manufacturing in Northwich.

“If we did not manufacture in Lostock we would not be doing the project in Lostock.”

He added that as the manufacturing process was energy intensive, the project was much needed to enable the company to remain competitive.