A biofuels letter
We welcome contributions from readers on any subject. Julian Davidson of Rosemount, Whiting Bay, sends us a copy of his letter to John Michel, NAC Planning Officer.
Dear Mr. Michel,
Re: Planning application Case Number 12/00282/PP
I wish to lodge a mild protest at the biomass plant proposed by Mr Fergus Tickell.
I attended both the preliminary public meeting on the 24th July and the Community Council meeting on the 31st July, at which Mr. Tickell spoke very honestly about his proposals. I listened to many vehement and scientific objections from the floor. I am a simple man: facts and figures about particulates, plume heights etc. go quite over my head.
Mr Tickell is convinced that his biomass plant will succeed. However he has not taken into account the fragile environment this island has, both ecologically and sociologically. He should have taken some time in researching what makes Arran tick (excuse the pun!). Arran is not simply part of North Ayrshire as NAC would like us to be. I have therefore two quick objections:
1. A plant such as Mr.Tickell proposes could not be commissioned or run without expert engineers brought in from the mainland. He could not staff his plant from the indigenous workforce available on the island. Where would these ‘immigrant’ engineers live? As NAC well knows, there is an acute shortage of affordable housing on the island. Maybe NAC or Northern Energy (Mr. Tickell’s company) would fund the construction of perhaps twenty or thirty homes adjacent to his proposed plant: this would alleviate the problem he has with waste heat. I seriously doubt NAC or Northern Energy would plough £25m. or so into this scheme!
2. This proposed plant will have tonnes of combustible material within its fence. The main building will be timber-clad. The whole kit and caboodle is surrounded by trees. If there were to be a fire how would we control it?
The island has but a handful of volunteer fire-fighters. It would take at least forty-five minutes for an engine to arrive at the site. By then the fire would be raging…with three schools and numerous dwellings nearby? Not a good idea at all!
I have no complaint with Mr. Tickell’s ideas. They are great and will benefit the Scottish economy. However, Arran is not the right place for this plant. Mainland yes, but not here!
Yours faithfully,
Julian Davidson
