Last updated at 08:22, Friday, 12 February 2010

PLANS for a revolutionary £2.5m rural power plant in Silloth have been approved by councillors.

Farmgen submitted plans to Allerdale council in November to build an anaerobic digester at Dryholme Farm.

The plant will produce energy from organic waste which can be used to heat homes and dry grain.

At a meeting of the council’s development panel on Wednesday, Coun John Armstrong said: “We are known as the Energy Coast county and we should support this scheme. The digester will be working all year round and producing a lot of good fertiliser.”

Coun Peter Kendall said he welcomed the plans, describing them as good practice.

But Coun Bill Jefferson said that extra wagons going to and from the farm would have a negative impact on the roads around the farm.

He said: “This county is being pulled apart left, right and centre. We are ruining our heritage.

“Not every scheme is good and this one will lead to more wagons using pot-holed roads and that will not be good for the area.”

Only one other councillor shared his views and the plans were passed.

First published at 19:27, Thursday, 11 February 2010
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk