A COUNCIL has changed its stance on a new power plant due to the strength of public anger over its planned construction.

Barry Chambers, Aspatria’s town councillor and the current mayor, attended a meeting on Wednesday evening, joined by about 30 residents.

Aspatria town council had originally supported the construction of the Balance Power Projects plant at the Aspatria Business Park.

But on Tuesday, the day before this week’s meeting, the town council formally lodged an objection to the scheme in response to residents’ concerns.

Mr Chambers explained: “We passed it as a town council because, if you look at the environmental impact assessment, it was minimum or no environmental aspects for any residents,” he said. “So we passed it on that vein.

“However, because of the public participation around it, the town council have withdrawn that and we are now opposed, officially.”

Mr Chambers stressed that the council’s change of position was in direct response to the level of anger they had gauged in the Aspatria community.

“The reason the town council has changed their decision is because of the public view,” Mr Chambers said. “All town and parish councils are there for the public view, so that’s why we’ve changed our opinion.

“And now we’ve done that, then we will fight with the residents to overturn any decisions.

“The objection was submitted into the Allerdale planning authority on Tuesday, and that is now on their portal, so the town council do now oppose fully any plans to build.”

Mr Chambers explained that residents were chiefly unhappy about what they felt was insufficient consultation from Allerdale council. He explained that this sentiment was on full display at Wednesday’s meeting.

“About 30 residents turned up venting their anger about why they weren’t consulted.

“Simon Sharp [Allerdale council’s planning manager] apologised for that.”

“What they should have done is consulted everybody on Park Road and Springkell. And they didn’t do that.”

Mr Chambers added that Allerdale Borough Council followed the statutory guidance on planning consultations.

“What you have to do is you have to pin an A4 sign to a lamppost adjacent to properties,” Mr Chambers said.

“This was done, but only for residents of the business park.

“And, in hindsight, they should have got the residents’ view from people on Park Road, and they didn’t do that.

“That’s why people are up in arms.”

Mr Chambers said that concerned residents are urging Allerdale council to encourage the power plant owners to find a different site.

“Allerdale are being asked to encourage the power plant to relocate. But they’ve spent tens of thousands of pounds on the current site and they’re not prepared to do that, so the residents are still up in arms.

“They want the decision overturned and now, because we need to listen to residents’ voices, the town council will oppose it and try and get it overturned as well.

Mr Chambers stressed that, at this point – as the plant had received planning permission – opposing the operation would be an uphill struggle for the concerned Aspatria residents.

“Simon Sharp did reiterate that they have got planning consent, it has been passed,” Mr Chambers said. “And there is very little chance of overturning that at this present moment. But the residents are still fighting.”