CONCERNS have been raised by Dorset councillors about a waste to fuel plant being planned for a site to the north of Bournemouth Airport.

One councillor said he understood why the possible effect from air pollution on nearby heathland was being considered – but struggled to see much in official documents about any risks to thousands of people who live and work in the area.

One report has suggested that ash falling on heathland soils nearby could make it over-acidic effecting its long-term viability, although Natural England has said it is satisfied with the proposals.

Wimborne councillor Shane Bartlett, who raised the concern about people’s health, was told that council environmental health officers had raised no worries about the effect of the development on people nearby.

Bournemouth Airport had initially objected to the application, but it is understood, has now dropped that stance after receiving additional information.

The site, 400 metres from the Dorset Council and BCP border, is close to Ferndown, West Parley and St Leonards and St Ives, and adjacent to Hurn Common and Parley Common, both designated as being of special scientific interest.

The Eco Sustainable Solutions plant is currently used to recycle ‘green’ waste – including material from garden bins and wood.

Dorset Council’s strategic planning committee decided on Monday not to object to the application in principle but to raise objections about what it sees as a lack of information on possible ecological effects and how any concerns might be mitigated. It is also asking the BCP council, which will make the final decision, to seek assurances over any impacts on the airport and the landscape effects on the Green Belt.

Questions have also been asked about whether the application would have to comply with the European Waste Directive, now the country has left the EU.

If the new unit is approved it could see the site increase its capacity to deal with non-hazardous waste from its current maximum of 266,000 tonnes to 341,000 tonnes.

Dorset Council background papers say: “The proposed facility would manage 60,000 tonnes per annum of non-hazardous waste, which would be subject to pre-processing within the energy recovery facility (ERF) building. From this, 50,000 tonnes would be subject to thermal combustion, providing combined heat and power with an anticipated generating capacity of 11.5 megawatts thermal and 3.4 megawatts electrical.”

Part of the increase in maximum tonnages is accounted for by an additional 15,000 tonnes a year of green waste and wood waste.

The proposals include a re-configuration of the existing layout with access maintained along Chapel Lane.

Power generated from the site would be fed into the national grid with talks taking place about whether heat could be used for nearby homes, at the airport or the business park.