Holystone criticise planners over biomass power plant delay

Sep 24 2009 by Sonia Sharma, The Journal

A GREEN engineering firm has hit out at planners for deferring a decision on a biomass power plant scheme for the third time.

The proposal to build the facility, which would transform 30,000 tonnes of waste wood into renewable energy, was to be discussed by a North Tyneside Council planning committee on Tuesday.

But it was deferred on a legal issue surrounding the company’s name.

The application, which officers had recommended for approval, was lodged in the name of Holystone Heat and Power Ltd, which was formed through a partnership of North Yorkshire-based Bioflame Ltd and waste management firm Holystone.

The committee was told a company called Holystone Heat and Power Ltd did not legally exist, although the two separate partner firms did.

Council advisers told the panel they could still go ahead and make a decision on the plan but the committee decided to defer it. The proposal has been postponed twice before, in July and August.

Now the firm behind the scheme has said it will appeal against the move and, if it wins, will seek costs of around £20,000 from the council.

Victor Buchanan, managing director of Bioflame Ltd, said: “We are very disappointed that the committee saw fit to ignore their own legal advisers and defer a decision on a technicality.