Health chiefs air plant fears

Published on Thursday 27 January 2011 11:35

HEALTH experts have raised concerns about plans for a £360 million renewable energy plant earmarked for Edinburgh's waterfront.

Forth Energy hopes to transport wood chip or wood pellets from North America or Scandinavia to power the biomass facility at Leith.

But NHS Lothian said a full assessment of the health impacts needed to be carried out before the plans were approved.

Campaigners claim the plant will worsen air pollution by releasing harmful particulates, which can affect people with respiratory conditions.

It will also include a chimney that will stand at around 120 metres - twice the height of the Scott Monument.

Dr Margaret Douglas, a consultant in public health medicine for NHS Lothian, said more work needed to be carried out into the health impacts if the scheme was to be approved by the Scottish Government.

She said: "While we welcome, in principle, any attempts to increase the provision of renewable energy, the environmental and public health impacts need to be assessed.

"Following the application submitted to the Scottish Government by Forth Energy, we believe that a fuller assessment of the health impacts should be done."

Forth Energy, which expects to submit its planning application next week, and is a partnership between Forth Ports and Scottish and Southern Energy, says the plant will create hundreds of jobs and help Edinburgh hit renewable energy targets.

Local campaigners and politicians, including city leader Jenny Dawe, have raised concerns about the development.

Despite the opposition, Rob Kirkwood, chair of the Leith Links Residents' Association, said campaigners still had a fight on their hands.

He said: "I'm not optimistic. I understand there's big money involved and whenever there's a lot of money involved, it's amazing how decisions are made to the detriment and concerns of other people."

The 200-megawatt plant is expected to create between 500-700 jobs during construction and sustain a further 60 or so once operational.

If given the go-ahead, the facility could be up and running by the end of 2015.

Calum Wilson, managing director of Forth Energy, said: "An environmental impact assessment has been undertaken and forms part of our application.

"The scope of this assessment has been agreed with the Scottish Government, both air quality and health are addressed appropriately.

"This will allow consideration to be given to the application and enable consultees and the public to make their response to the Scottish Government."

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