Residents kick up stink over gas plan

AERIAL view ... This bird’s eye shot shows the woodland-covered former landfill site, bounded by Broadway running along the top and Mather Street Primary School on its left. Dalton Street runs parallel to Mather Street, on the right of the picture, and Dean Street winds its way off the left of the shot

ANGRY residents fear that plans for a methane stripping plant will blight their lives with noise and smells — and risk of explosions.

Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority has appointed Entec UK to prepare a planning application for the plant at the former Hardman Fold landfill site in Failsworth.

It says leachate, which contains methane gas, drains into sewers from the ageing system at Hardman Fold, off Broadway, and is polluting Moston Brook.

The aim of the plant is to prevent the dissolved methane being discharged untreated into the sewer system and to stop potentially explosive concentrations of methane building up.

The authority is hosting a drop-in session to answer questions today from 4.30-8.30pm at the Lancaster Club, Broadway, Failsworth.

The site was used as landfill in 1978, restored by 1983, and is now covered in woodland.
Around 80 residents attended a public meeting at Lancaster Club, Broadway, on Monday.

Mark Flitcroft, from New Moston, said: “It’s one of the few bits of greenery left in the area. We don’t know how noisy it will be and in summer it will smell rotten.

“The wagons will also cause traffic problems and it will be open 24 hours a day.

“They do need to get rid of the methane but there are other ways. This way will make it more combustible, causing a problem because if anything goes wrong it will blow up.”

Mr Flitcroft says letters were sent out to only 304 out of 4,000 homes in the area, in the Christmas post addressed to “the occupant”.

The deadline for objections was January 11 but Mr Flitcroft says with council staff off over Christmas it left little time.

The authority’s planning application says odours will not be significant, noise levels are unlikely to create complaints and there are no environmentally unacceptable impacts.

Vegetation will screen the specialised treatment facility and it won’t compromise the openness of the site. It also won’t be accessible to the public so community consideration and consultation is not considered appropriate.

Greater Manchester Waste Disposal authority has a leaflet showing details of the proposals available by ringing 0161 770 1700.

Councillor Mark Alcock. member for environment and infrastructure, said letters went out on December 10 giving them until January 11 to lodge objections.

He added: “However, site notices were also erected on January 9 giving people until January 30 to make any comments.”

The planning team can be contacted on 0161 770 4117 quoting application number PA/055322/08.