clean power - northamptonshire county council elections...a copy of the questionnaire can be found...
TRANSCRIPT
Public Relations
Clean Power Energy Recovery Facility, Shelton Road, Corby
Statement of Community Involvement
On behalf of Clean Power Properties
Executive summary ..................................................................................3
Consultation process................................................................................4
Conclusion ........................................................................................13
Appendix 1 – Leaflet ..............................................................................14
Appendix 2 – Local press advert ............................................................18
Appendix 3 – Press release ....................................................................19
Appendix 4 – Corby consultation area map ..........................................20
Appendix 5 – Invitation letter................................................................21
Appendix 6 – Public exhibition panels...................................................22
Appendix 7 – Consultation questionnaire .............................................25
Appendix 8 – Media coverage - Northamptonshire Telegraph -
Consultation on revised plans for energy recovery
facility in Corby - 1.6.2016 ..............................................27
Appendix 9 – BBC Northamptonshire interview transcript ..................29
SCI: Proposed Energy Recovery Facility at Shelton Road – June 2016
2
Contents
This report has been prepared to accompany the planning application for Clean Power’s proposed
Energy Recovery Facility at its site in Shelton Road, Corby, within the Willowbrook Industrial Estate.
It details the pre‐planning consultation work that the applicants have undertaken with the local
community and the responses received.
The community consultation was undertaken by Quantum Public Relations on behalf of Clean
Power Properties during May and June 2016.
This report sets out the activity that was undertaken to communicate the plans for the proposed
Energy Recovery Facility. The report also contains the feedback that has been received in response
to the consultation. This feedback was received via questionnaire, telephone, website and email.
The plans and the public exhibition were widely publicised through an advert in the local paper
(the Northamptonshire Telegraph, readership 41,304), a press release to local media, individual
leaflets delivered to 3,500 residents and local businesses neighbouring the site, a letter sent to
48 stakeholders, and through the website.
The exhibition was attended by 25 people and nine forms were completed. One questionnaire was
completed online.
This document lists all of the feedback received during the consultation and the appendices
include copies of the consultation materials produced, including; the leaflet, press advert, press
release, exhibition boards, consultation questionnaire and invitation letter, as well as an example
of press coverage published ahead of the exhibition.
1.1 Outline of the report
1.2 Executive Summary
SCI: Proposed Energy Recovery Facility at Shelton Road – June 2016
3
Executive Summary
To determine the pre‐application consultation activities, the applicants have followed
Northamptonshire County Council’s Statement of Community Involvement (SCI). The Council has
devised a set of guiding principles for the SCI to make sure that community involvement in the
planning process is as effective as possible.
Northamptonshire County Council’s SCI states:
“Where a proposal is deemed to be significant by the planning authority, developers/applicants will
be expected to undertake community engagement and involvement drawing up their proposals.
Developers/applicants will need to submit with their planning application a ‘Statement of Local
Engagement’ showing how they have engaged in the community in their proposals and how it has
changed as a consequence.
Various methods may be used by developers/applicants in seeking to involve the community at an
early stage in drawing up their proposals. The following methods, and others, could be used to
engage the community:
Letters and leaflets that together with easily readable plans and diagrams explain proposals
in a clear and straightforward manner.
Public meetings.
Public exhibitions.
Citizen’s workshops.”
The purpose of this consultation was to involve Corby residents and stakeholders in the earliest
stages of discussions about the proposed changes to the development. It was considered
important to seek the views of the public on the proposal, and gather any feedback which could be
used to further develop the plans, mitigating any concerns where possible.
2.1 Outline of the process
2.2 Purpose of the consultation
SCI: Proposed Energy Recovery Facility at Shelton Road – June 2016
4
Consultation process
SCI: Proposed Energy Recovery Facility at Shelton Road – June 2016
5
Consultation process continued
The objective of the consultation was to engage as widely as possible, but specifically with:
Local residents within a 2.5 mile radius of the site
Local County, Borough and Parish Councillors
Local MP
Local businesses
Stakeholder letter and leaflet
48 key stakeholders were sent a letter (see Appendix 5) outlining details of the proposal and
inviting them to attend the public exhibition from 1pm (one hour before the public were invited)
on 7th June 2016.
These included:
MP for Corby – 1
Northamptonshire County Council (Leader, Deputy Leader, Opposition Leaders, Cabinet Members,
Planning, Development Control Committee Members) – 22
Corby Borough Council (Leader, Deputy Leader, Mayor, Senior Planning Officer, Head of Planning,
Weldon and Gretton Ward Members) – 8
Gretton Parish Council members and Clerk – 10
Clerks of adjoining parish councils (Deene & Deenethorpe; Rockingham; Cottingham; Middleton;
Rushton; Newton and Little Oakley; Weldon) – 7
The letter was accompanied by a four page A5 leaflet, outlining details of the proposed facility.
A copy of the leaflet can be found in Appendix 1.
Telephone and email
A telephone hotline and development email account were established to provide members of the
public with ways in which to ask questions, raise any concerns or make any comments.
2.3 Who we wanted to engage with
2.4 Consultation methods and outcomes
MP meeting and engagement
Project Manager, Ian Price and Advisor, Charlie Vavasour met with Corby MP, Tom Pursglove on
Wednesday 25th May 2016 to discuss the proposal.
This was followed up with a letter to Mr Pursglove on 9th June 2016 which outlined details on how
the public consultation went, feedback received and where more information could be sought.
Meeting with local ward councillor
Project Manager Ian Price met with Councillor Rob McKellar on 15 June 2016 to discuss the proposals.
Leaflet
A four page leaflet promoting the public exhibition was sent to
3,500 households and businesses within a 2.5 mile radius of the
site. See map, Appendix 4. The leaflet promoted the public
exhibition. Leaflets were also deposited at Corby Library
(pictured right).
Website
A dedicated website was developed to provide information on the proposal and promote the
public exhibition. PDFs of the leaflet and boards used at the exhibition were made available to
download from the site, along with a dedicated FAQs page.
A live version of the website can be viewed at: http://www.corbyrenewableenergy.com/
Exhibition
A public exhibition was held on Tuesday 7th June 2016 from 2pm‐7pm.
25 people attended the exhibition. During the first hour of the event two stakeholders visited the
exhibition: Andrew Royle, Chairman, Gretton Parish Council and Cllr Arthur McCutcheon from
Northamptonshire County Council who sits on the Development Control Committee.
SCI: Proposed Energy Recovery Facility at Shelton Road – June 2016
6
Consultation process continued
Exhibition display boards provided information and background about the proposal, details about
the technology and information about the developers. A copy of the boards can be found in
Appendix 6.
Members of Clean Power’s development team were in attendance to welcome visitors and answer
any questions they had.
Visitors to the exhibition were invited to complete a questionnaire giving their views on the
proposal. A copy of the feedback form was also available via the website where it could be
completed online.
Nine forms were completed and one completed online.
A copy of the questionnaire can be found in Appendix 7.
Press release
A press release was issued to local media on 27th May to local media (see Appendix 3). The press
release resulted in coverage on the Northamptonshire Telegraph website along with an in‐depth
radio interview on BBC Radio Northamptonshire (listenership ‐ 93,000).
Advert
An advertisement highlighting the exhibition was placed in the Northamptonshire Telegraph which
came out on Thursday 2nd June (see Appendix 2).
Telephone hotline and email go live 24 May 2016
Write to councillors, MP, Parish Councils 25 May 2016
Deliver leaflet to local residents and businesses 25 May 2016
Launch website page 25 May 2016
Issue press release 27 May 2016
Exhibition advert appears in local press 2 June 2016
Hold public exhibition 7 June 2016
Final date for comments to be included in the report 17 June 2016
Respond to enquiries via email, telephone and letter Ongoing
2.5 Consultation timeline
SCI: Proposed Energy Recovery Facility at Shelton Road – June 2016
7
Consultation process continued
Below is a list of comments and questions received between 27th May 2016 – 17th June 2016
Via email – 2
Via telephone – 1
Via questionnaire – 10
Feedback from email
Consultation feedback
SCI: Proposed Energy Recovery Facility at Shelton Road – June 2016
8
“Dear Sir or Madam,
Please go and find a more suitable site, away from any development, wildlife and good agricultural
areas. Obviously, as you must have guessed from the strength of opposition to previous
applications, it is not wanted.”
“Thank you for your email regarding the proposed Shelton Road Energy Recovery Facility.
Your comments have been logged and noted.”
“In response to your recent queries we can confirm the following:
Clean Power has withdrawn from the Planning Inquiry and will not therefore be submitting any
proofs of evidence.
The Stephenson Way exhibition yesterday presented details of the proposed facility for which we
intend to submit a new planning application.”
1
Feedback 1:
Caller from Corby Power Station
“Keen to see this built, thinks it will be good for the local community. Area needs power”
1
Feedback 1:
2
Feedback 2:
“Hello I wonder if you can tell me about the current Planning Inquiry into the Shelton Road gasification
proposal (PINS Ref APP/K2800/V/16/3143431). Is Clean Power Properties withdrawing from this Planning
Inquiry? Will the exhibition to be held on Tuesday 7th June at The Stephenson Way Community Centre
focus on the same proposals as those being considered at the Inquiry Hearings scheduled for 16th and
17th August? Is Clean Power Properties intending to submit Proofs of Evidence by 19th July?
Thank you in advance for your clarification.
Development
Team
response
Feedback received via hotline
SCI: Proposed Energy Recovery Facility at Shelton Road – June 2016
9
A feedback form was available as part of the consultation. Eight were completed at
the exhibition, one form was received through the post and one was completed
online. The results can be found below. Please note, comments have been copied
verbatim as per the feedback forms.
1. How did you find out about today’s public exhibition?
Leaflet / poster 4
Internet / website 2
Word of mouth 2
Other 1
(“I’m chair of comms centre”) n
2. Are you aware of the increasing demands
being placed on the country’s energy
network?
Yes 8
No 1
3. Do you believe this proposal presents a positive way to reduce the amount of waste going to
landfill and generate energy?
Yes 4
No 2
Other 3
‘Hoping to believe it would reduce landfill’
‘unsure’
‘concerned of the impact on the
community re: traffic and emissions’ n
Consultation feedback continued
Leaflet
Internet/website
Word of mouth
Other
Yes
No
Yes
No
Other
L
SCI: Proposed Energy Recovery Facility at Shelton Road – June 2016
10
4. How well have the following aspects of the proposal been explained?
1
1 2 3 4 5
2
3
4
5
Not very wellRa�ng
Freq
uenc
y of
resp
onse
Very well
1
1 2 3 4 5
2
3
4
5
Not very wellRa�ng
Freq
uenc
y of
resp
onse
Very well
1
1 2 3 4 5
2
3
4
5
Not very wellRa�ng
Freq
uenc
y of
resp
onse
Very well
1
1 2 3 4 5
2
3
4
5
Not very wellRa�ng
Freq
uenc
y of
resp
onse
Very well
1
1 2 3 4 5
2
3
4
5
Not very wellRa�ng
Freq
uenc
y of
resp
onse
Very well
1
1 2 3 4 5
2
3
4
5
Not very wellRa�ng
Freq
uenc
y of
resp
onse
Very well
Consultation feedback continued
Need for the facility Transport
Air quality
Visual impact
Site suitability
Technology being
proposed
SCI: Proposed Energy Recovery Facility at Shelton Road – June 2016
11
Consultation feedback continued
5. What are your views on our draft proposals for an energy recovery facility in Corby?
“I am interested in the technology and the procedure and personaly am happy to see it take shape. The Towns
growing and we should be glad o/ it”
“If all what was suggested in less traffic, emission low, on site obs, supply heat, electricity to local area that would
be a plus.”
“This facility is needed because of the impact waste has on the invirontment. It will be an added bonus for Corby.
Hopefully it will go ahead”
“Still unsure about risk as Corby has been plaged with problems from toxic waste before”
“concerned about this being in addition to one already passed nearby on Gretton Brook Road”
“Mixed”
“I believe this plant will have a negative effect on the surrounding areas. the traffic to Weldon near the recycling
center is already problematic and adding multiple HGVs to the traffic will not help this. The surrounding area will be
effected by the gases released by the plant and there is no credible evidence showing this will not be the case.
There are other, more suitable sites this plant could be placed. There has not been enough research into the science
behind gasification to be so near a residential area.”
“I think this plant and process involved is an excellent facility for Corby. Great for the general environment and the
permanent skilled jobs it will create.”
6. Is there anything extra that you would like to see included as part of our proposals?
“Prahaps a mini nature Reserve. To accomadate the local wild‐life”
“the facility seems to have covered everything”
“make emissions data public”
“Fire safety. Fuel Contracts”
“Planning gain to community”
“Traffic impact, property price impact, wildlife impact, amount of c02 released and how this will effect residents,
health impacts on residence from multiple recycling plants in the area.”
After 12‐18 months of running I would like to see a report released by Clean Power of how the plant has been
running. i.e. efficiency, tonnage of rubbish incinerated, power produced etc.
SCI: Proposed Energy Recovery Facility at Shelton Road – June 2016
12
7.Clean power is committed to supporting local community projects in the areas in which it
operates. At this early stage, we would appreciate your views on local Corby projects that could
benefit from trust funding. What projects would you like to put forward for our consideration?
“?”
“Educational – free transport – local schools”
“Conservation projects eg. Brookfield. Community Solar Panel projects.”
“Woodland regenration”
“support the local area by revoking the application”
“Anything to do with nature and the environment.”
8. Additional comments
“Against it being so close to town and schools, still have major concerns over syngas production”
“Ian Price was very helpful and answered my questions”
“Going out before to school to make aware of recycling – etc”
“Impressed by the presentation, all questions were answered fully, good technical explanation by MR. Talbott.”
One attendee (from a local business) requested more information on:
“fuel envelope.
historic data ‐ existing site.
highways ‐ route ‐ more details.”
Consultation feedback continued
It was good to meet you at the recent public exhibition in Corby. As discussed, please find enclosed the
fuel envelope for our proposed facility – to understand whether your waste stream might be suitable for
our facility you would need to have an analysis of the material carried out by a laboratory that is
accredited for assessing refuse derived fuels. This analysis will show whether your material would
comply with our fuel envelope. An example of a laboratory that can help with this is ESG:
http://www.esg.co.uk/
In terms of the data around performance of plants Biomass Power has built previously and how
the operators of those plants work with their neighbours, it is not something that we have records
of unfortunately. The operators and owners of those plants are required to provide regular data to
the Environment Agency as part of their Environmental Permit conditions and it is the regulator
that holds all of those records. They will also hold records of any issues with the general public or
local businesses that might have given rise to any complaint regarding the operation of a
particular facility.
I trust that this is helpful but please feel free to contact us if you need anything else.
Development
Team
response
The objective of undertaking a full consultation was to inform Corby residents and stakeholders
about our proposals and to involve them in the process, explain our plans in detail, listen to
feedback and respond to any questions prior to the submission of a planning application.
Our proposals were widely publicised through a range of channels, with over 3,500 local residents
directly communicated with and tens of thousands indirectly via the media and internet.
The feedback that we have received has been useful when preparing our application and several
changes have been made as a direct result of the feedback that we have received, as outlined in
the Planning Statement.
Our engagement programme will not stop with the submission of our planning application. Project
updates will continue to be communicated via the website. The dedicated project hotline, email
address and website will all remain active for anyone interested in our proposals to ask questions
and make comments.
In response to the public consultation Clean Power has provided further information in its planning
application on the following:
Fire safety – both in the design and operation of the proposed facility;
Visitor and Education proposals; and
Community engagement – both during construction and operation of the proposed facility.
SCI: Proposed Energy Recovery Facility at Shelton Road – June 2016
13
Conclusion
SCI: Proposed Energy Recovery Facility at Shelton Road – June 2016
Appendix 1 – leaflet
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Appendix 1 – leaflet continued
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Appendix 1 – leaflet continued
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SCI: Proposed Energy Recovery Facility at Shelton Road – June 2016
Appendix 2 – press advert
19
Appendix 3 – Press release
SCI: Proposed Energy Recovery Facility at Shelton Road – June 2016
SCI: Proposed Energy Recovery Facility at Shelton Road – June 2016
20
2.5 mile radius from site postcode to reach 3,500 addresses
Appendix 4 – Corby consultation data area
21
Appendix 5 – Invitation letter
SCI: Proposed Energy Recovery Facility at Shelton Road – June 2016
www.corbyrenewableenergy.com
25 May 2016 Dear
Proposed Energy Recovery Facility at Shelton Road, Corby
Clean Power is intending to submit an application to revise the planning consent granted last year for a modern, clean energy recovery facility at its site in Shelton Road, within the Willowbrook Industrial Estate. You may be aware that Clean Power already benefits from this existing planning consent to build a modern energy recovery facility on the Shelton Road site. However, before commencing construction, we reviewed the project and decided there was a more proven technology that could be used at the facility. Instead of using the gas produced from the waste in an engine to produce electricity, the improved technology we wish to deploy uses the gas to heat water to drive a steam turbine, which then generates electricity. To accommodate the new technology we needed to get permission to slightly increase the size of the building. The amount of waste that will be processed is likely to be less than the consented scheme and the consequent number of vehicle movements fewer than originally planned. We talked to the Planning Team at Northants County Council about these amendments and we agreed they could be made by way of a Section 73 application to vary the existing planning permission, which the County Council resolved to grant, but was subsequently called in by the Secretary of State, triggering a Public Inquiry. Public Inquiries tend to be costly and time consuming for all involved, therefore we have decided to submit a new, full planning application for this project, which includes a comprehensive public consultation programme. To find out more about the proposal we would like to invite you to a public exhibition that is being held on:
Tuesday 7th June 2016 at The Stephenson Way Community Centre, 18-28 Stephenson Way, Corby NN17 1DA
The exhibition will be open specifically for key stakeholders from 1pm and then is open to the local community from 2.00pm to 7.00pm. If you cannot make 1pm you are very welcome to attend the public session. The public exhibition is intended to provide local residents and others interested parties with the opportunity to find out more about the proposal at Shelton Road. Members of the development team will be on hand to discuss the plans and answer questions and will welcome any feedback about the proposal. We hope you can make the exhibition and look forward to meeting you there. If however you are unable to attend, you can find more information about the project at www.corbyrenewableenergy.com or you can contact the development team by email on [email protected] or by calling 0808 168 1678 (freephone). Yours sincerely
Ian Price Project Manager, Corby Energy Recovery Facility Project
22
SCI: Proposed Energy Recovery Facility at Shelton Road – June 2016
Appendix 6 – Exhibition panels 1 and 2 of 6
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Appendix 6 – Exhibition panels 3 and 4 of 6
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Appendix 6 – Exhibition panels 5 and 6 of 6
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Appendix 7 – Consultation questionnaire
SCI: Proposed Energy Recovery Facility at Shelton Road – June 2016
26
SCI: Proposed Energy Recovery Facility at Shelton Road – June 2016
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Appendix 7 – Consultation questionnaire
SCI: Proposed Energy Recovery Facility at Shelton Road – June 2016
27
Appendix 8 – Media coverage
Northamptonshire Telegraph ‐ Consultation on revised plans for
energy recovery facility in Corby ‐ 1.6.2016
SCI: Proposed Energy Recovery Facility at Shelton Road – June 2016
28
Appendix 8 – Media coverage
SCI: Proposed Energy Recovery Facility at Shelton Road – June 2016
29
Appendix 9 – BBC Radio Northamptonshire
interview transcript
On Wednesday 1st June 2016, Project Manager Ian Price (IP) discussed plans for the proposed
facility on BBC Radio Northamptonshire. He was interviewed by Stuart Linnell (SL) on the Breakfast
Show. A copy of the transcript is below:
SL: Last week we heard about the controversial plans for a waste to energy plant in the St James
area of Northampton. Now we are talking about similar plans for a plant in Corby. Planning
permission for a power plant on the Willowbrook Industrial Estate was granted last year but the
plans were called in by the government. Now the company behind the scheme, Clean Power, are to
submit a revised planning application using different technology to that originally proposed, public
exhibition will be held next week. I’ve been talking to Ian Price from Clean Power, tell me how the
new plant will differ from the old one
IP: The new plant will have a different technology, it’s still what’s called advanced conversion
technology, the existing planning consent that we have is for pyrolosis we’re changing that to
gasification, which is a more proven technology.
SL: Just explain if you can briefly, without getting too technical, the difference between the two
technologies
IP: So pyrolosis, you heat your fuel or heat your waste in the absence of any air, gasification uses a
little bit more air, but not the same as a traditional combustion process.
SL: Ok we’ll come back to the technology in a moment, but why submit a new planning application?
IP: We had a discussion with the planning authorities with Northamptonshire County Council last
autumn, and we sought to amend the existing planning consent. That has raised a certain amount
of concern amongst a number of stakeholders including Corby Borough Council, and despite
getting a resolution to grant from Northamptonshire County Council, that decision was called in by
the secretary of state. To try and resolve some of those concerns we’ve decided to submit a brand
new application, along with that comes a full public consultation before the application is
submitted to Northamptonshire County Council, and we think that is the best way of dealing with
concerns that were raised at the time.
SL: Is this a way, actually, of avoiding a costly public enquiry?
IP: Partly, it’s not just costly to us as a developer but it does require a lot of resources from the
public purse, and we’re going to address the issues that we believe would have been raised in the
enquiry in the new planning application.
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SL: Ok, let me raise some issues with you then that are very much, and you’ll have heard this I’m
sure, in the public mind in areas around Northamptonshire where gasification in particular is being
proposed. People fear that what we are talking about is a plant that could be polluting or
dangerous, and they’re concerned about the emissions from it, what can you say to them?
IP: Well, I would say that these plants are safe, they are heavily regulated through a number of
means, the basic legislation that covers combustion facilities is what’s called the industrial
emissions directive, and that regulates very strictly emissions that come from these types of
facilities. In the UK we also have an additional level of control which is, you need an environmental
permit from the Environment Agency. They are the regulator and they can come in and look at
your operation at any time. As part of that regulation there is what’s called a ‘CEMS system’ which
is continuous emissions monitoring, and basically it means that the plant is monitored 24/7, and all
of the emissions from the plant are monitored as part of that process.
SL: And we keep hearing from experts in waste management and waste disposal that this is, as you
say, safe and its not dangerous. However, the objectors to it point to the fact that it’s unproven
technology in the UK. How do you answer that?
IP: The technology we’re employing on this project is British technology, it does have reference
plants in the UK, and in fact they’re building two facilities, two additional facilities in the UK as we
speak, one in Hertfordshire and one in Northern Ireland. One of the investors in both those
projects is the UK’s green investment bank. So I don’t think these sorts of people would be, you
wouldn’t get planning permission, you wouldn’t get the environmental permit, you wouldn’t get
investors like the green investment bank involved if there were any concerns about safety.
SL: And the other two you just mentioned they’ve actually got planning permission and they are
being built are they?
IP: Indeed yes, one down in Hertfordshire and one in Northern Ireland at the moment.
SL: You have a public exhibition next week what will they be able to find out? Can they question
you, for example?
IP: I’ll be along yes, we’re also having a representative from our technology provider coming along
and trying to address some concerns that you’ve just highlighted.
SL: What is the timetable now?
IP: Depending on the results of the public consultation, we’re obviously going to try and take on
board the feedback we get over the coming weeks, but obviously we’ll be looking to try and
submit a planning application early in the summer I would think.
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SL: And have it built and complete by when?
IP: Partly dependent on the subsidy contract on different subsidy that the government has for
these types of facilities, so that will probably take a year to resolve, and then there is a two year
construction period thereafter, so we expect really to be coming on stream in 2020/2021.
SL: That’s Ian Price from the company Clean Power, planning to build that new waste energy plant
on the Willowbrook Industrial Estate at Corby, that public exhibition that we talked about where
you can see the plans and find out more and quiz Ian and those other people that will be there, is
next Tuesday as the Stevenson Way Community Centre in Corby between 2 in the afternoon and
7 in the evening. Stevenson Way, Corby from 2 o’clock and 7 next Tuesday afternoon.