Protestors against Carlisle gas plant plans gather outside meeting

Protestors were outside Carlisle’s Civic Centre on Wednesday (September 4) ahead of the meeting of the planning committee and they were hoping to get the chance to speak with members as they arrived.

The continuing campaign from Rockcliffe residents comes after plans for the 'embedded waste fuel gasification and combined heat and power (CHP) generation facility' was proposed by North West Regeneration.

The proposed site at units on Kingmoor Park Rockcliffe Estate will heat waste to break it down into a gas named syngas, if approved, which can be used for electricity generation or refined into other chemicals and fuel.

Protestors against Carlisle gas plant plans gather outside council meeting (Image: Ian Duncan)

Residents are questioning the safety of the plans, citing a huge blaze that ripped through an industrial unit at Rockcliffe Industrial estate back in 2021 – forcing residents to keep windows and doors shut after smoke continued for almost a month.

At the time, firefighters said the building which was on fire contained 500 tonnes of mixed waste including plastics and wood.

Sally Tears, spokeswoman for the Rockcliffe and District Action Group, said they were there because the planning committee was meeting and she added: "We just wanted to make sure that they are aware of actually what is going on."

She said they wanted full answers from the council about the proposed development and there was public support for their campaign.

"I am hoping that we are not too tired, because this has been going on for so long, but it's just vital that we keep going because we are just being dictated to without having any questions answered," she said.

She said that their fight would continue "well and truly" and they just wanted the committee to be better informed.

She added: "We want to make sure they are not giving green lights to red flags without knowing all of the information."

Demonstrators against gas plant plans outside a Cumberland Council meeting in Carlisle. (Image: Ian Duncan)

Ms Tears said they had no idea when the application was due to be heard by the planning committee and added: "When you think about it we are told it is a state-of-the-art building, it’s never been done before, it is this, that and the other, that's fine, it might be a wonderful and really great thing however they can't answer the question as to how they have come to that conclusion.

"It made me think the other day it's a bit like the Titanic isn't it? When people got on the Titanic they were told 'it's great, it's state-of-the-art, it's fabulous and it can't possibly sink' and everybody believed what they were told and I don't want us to make that same mistake in believing everything we are told without the facts to prove that what they are saying is correct."

Henry Goodwin, a director from Sustainable Carlisle, said he disagreed with some decisions made by the council and he urged the authority to carry out the right tests, such as climate impact studies, relating to the development.

Speaking previously, a spokesperson from North West Recycling said: "A comprehensive planning application has been submitted, including full technical details.

"The company has fully engaged with the planning authority during the consultation period and at this time we have nothing further to add."

Cumberland Council is unable to comment on the proposal, with it being a live application.