Thrupp Lake, 13 July 2008 |
A decision today by Oxfordshire County Councillors on a planning application at Sutton Courtenay means that Thrupp Lake at Radley is likely to be saved permanently from destruction, say campaigners. The Lake was due to be filled with ash from Didcot ‘A’ Power Station. A new planning permission will allow Waste Recycling Group (WRG) Ltd, who operate the Sutton Courtenay Landfill Site next to the power station, to take and store up to 400,000 tonnes of surplus ash that might otherwise have been destined for Thrupp Lake . This should mean that Thrupp Lake will not now be needed for ash disposal. |
RWE npower, who operate the power station, put their controversial scheme to dispose of pulverised fuel ash (PFA )in Thrupp Lake on hold in February this year, but refused to rule out destroying the Lake at some time in the future. Today, County Councillors granted permission to WRG Ltd to stockpile 400,000 tonnes of ash from the Power Station at its Sutton Courtenay Landfill Site. The Landfill Site is right next to the Power Station, and the ash can readily be moved there without using public roads. WRG will use the ash for engineering purposes and restoration of the landfill site in the future. The stockpile forms part of a series of changes to the existing arrangements at the Landfill Site, designed to meet technical requirements and changing waste disposal needs. Under European legislation, the power station has to close by the end of 2015. This stockpile should be adequate to meet the power station’s ash disposal needs until then. |
Dr Basil Crowley, Chairman of Save Radley Lakes, said: |
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Paul Green, Senior Development Manager with Waste Recycling Group, said: |
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Commenting on news that the new plan to allow Waste Recycling Group Ltd to stockpile ash from Didcot power station has been approved, which will ensure Thrupp Lake, Radley is permanently saved from destruction, Local Liberal Democrat MP and active supporter of the Save Radley Lakes campaign, Dr Evan Harris, said: |
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Save Radley Lakes expressed hope that it will now be able to work with the interested parties, including Npower, over the long-term development and management of the Radley Lakes as a wildlife and community resource. |
Other links relevant to this posting Oxfordshire County Council, Planning and Regulation Committee, Agenda 21/07/2008 |