Go-Ahead Recommended For Green Energy Plant

A controversial plan to build a green energy facility near Great Bowden is being recommended for approval.

The anaerobic digestion plant is earmarked for a former mushroom farm on Welham Lane and would take-in chicken manure, maize and straw to turn into gas.

The plant is earmarked for the site of a former mushroom farm

Over 300 people have objected to the plan and more than 1,000 have signed a petition against the facility being built.

Concerns include the impact of heavy goods vehicles importing manure and food stock to the site and fears about odour from the treatment process.

The applicant Great Bowden Green Energy Ltd wants to pipe the gas to a nearby National Grid connection and said the treatment process would create no smells.

It added there would be no more than 52 daily lorry movements in and out of the site during 30 peak days of the year – with a maximum of 22 trips at other times, with the lorries’ loads covered to prevent spillage.

Planning officers at Leicestershire County Council have advised councillors to approve the scheme when they consider it later this week.