Residents of Lowry Hill are campaigning against a proposed £80m energy-from-waste plant at Kingmoor Park, Carlisle.

The residents are principally concerned about the visual impact the 39m high Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) will have on the landscape, but have also raised concerns about environmental and health issues.

However, the ERF developers argue the facility has multiple environmental and economic benefits and stress it poses no risk to health.

Plans for the development have now been submitted to Cumbria County Council. People have until Friday, July 29, to comment.

Stefan Janusz, 49, of Lyne Close, Lowry Hill, Carlisle, thinks he will be able to see the plant from his house.

He said: “My primary concern is the close proximity of the plant which is basically adjacent to the Lowry Hill housing estate.

“In my terms it's not sustainable. It's far too close to the residents' area, schools and the nature reserve.

“It would be the biggest flaw of the century should this planning go through.”

Alisdair McKee, 46, of Lowry Hill Road, is also against the plant.

He said: “This is one of the most contentious planning issues north of the river in the last 50 years. At least 80 per cent of the local population oppose this.”

Mr McKee and other residents have paid for and distributed leaflets all over north Carlisle encouraging people to object to the ERF. They also completed a survey of 350 people in Lowry Hill and found 78 per cent were against the development.

Mr McKee has serious concerns about health risks posed by the plant and pollution. But those behind the project insist there would be no odours or toxic emissions, and no nuisance or health risk to residents.

Tim Jervis, on behalf of the developer, said: “We have been meticulous and very careful to make sure this plant doesn't damage the environment it's sitting in.

“We're excited about the opportunity to give Cumbria its first energy-from-waste plant. We're relying on other people to dispose of [our waste] at the moment which isn't very fair.”

The ERF works by heating waste to generate a synthesis gas, which would be used to generate electricity and heat through a steam turbine. The plant has the capacity to take 195,000 tonnes of waste a year, generating enough electricity to power around 40,000 homes.

The developers, Fortum Carlisle Limited and Kingmoor Park Properties Ltd, held a public consultation in April where 43 people filled out feedback forms, mostly opposed to the plans.

As a result, the developers scaled back the initial plan, reducing the plant's size and appearance in line with community feedback. The site will also now only deal with pre-processed waste rather than unprocessed 'kerbside' waste.

But Mr McKee was not impressed by the changes.

He said: “They are just minor details. They have got nothing to do with the rights or wrongs of the plant as a whole.

“Making the chimney 5m shorter just means the flue is going to be 5m shorter than the civic centre. You still going to be able to see it from Belle Vue, from Stanwix, from Houghton. It's going to dominate the sky line.

“The building itself is 40m tall, that's a massive issue.”

However, Fortum Carlisle Limited and Kingmoor Park Properties Ltd, argue the ERF has both environmental and economic benefits.

It would convert waste that otherwise would go to landfill or be exported abroad at a price into electricity.

As well as an initial £80 million investment, the plant will generate £1 million in wages every year.

There are more than 20 ERFs operating in the UK but the one proposed in Carlisle is different because it has a higher efficiency. Only one other plant based in the Isle of Wight operates in a similar way.

If given planning consent, construction will start next year and electricity production will begin in 2019.

Comment online at www.cumbria.gov.uk/planning-environment or email developmentcontrol@cumbria.gov.uk