OPPOSITION to plans for a new biomass plant in Swindon is gathering pace, with concerns the factory would pump noxious gases across 10,000 homes.

A public meeting at Rodbourne Cheney Club in Moredon Road has been arranged for next Friday by Coun Des Moffatt (Lab, Rodbourne Cheney), who is leading opposition to the Cheney Manor Industrial Estate plan.

Pure Green – a low-carbon energy and animal bedding company – has applied for planning permission to set up the facility after being attracted to Swindon by Forward Swindon’s business investment campaign.

The company specialises in recycling wood and other natural materials into two products: biomass for use in commercial energy production, and animal bedding.

Following a seminar at the Civic Offices with representatives of Hippofan, Pure Green’s European parent company, Coun Moffatt has raised concerns that noxious gases will be produced as a part of the factory’s manufacturing processes.

“We had a seminar where they spoke to a number of councillors, including the leader of the council, and under questioning they accepted that they would be burning chipboard wood and potentially laminated chipboard,” said Coun Moffatt.

“Burning that wood will produce noxious gases which may trigger asthma attacks.

“They said they have to add a material to the production process which neutralises the noxious gases.

“There will be expense involved in adding the material and it can only be added physically through human involvement.

“That creates two dangers: the human may forget and cost pressures might reduce their eagerness to pay for the neutralising material. If they don’t do their job properly these noxious gases have the potential to be carcinogenic.”

Coun Moffatt has said prevailing winds across the industrial estate would spread the harmful fumes across 10,000 homes in north and north-east Swindon.

A decision on whether the biomass plant will be built will be made on August 13 at a meeting of the council’s planning committee, though Coun Moffatt hopes to create a body of opinion at next Friday’s public meeting which will force council members to reject what he calls an “abomination.”

Matt O’Sullivan, 44, chairman of Ferndale Residents’ Association, said: “The local council never deemed it necessary to let any of the residents know this was being proposed.

“Our association, all 10 members, is completely opposed to it.”

Ken Harvey, 65, chairman of Rodbourne Green Residents’ Association, said: “We are concerned that we are going to be suffering from gas, smoke and ash fall.

“If they can guarantee there won’t be these gases falling across the neighbourhood, well fair enough.”

A spokesperson from Forward Swindon declined to comment while the application is in the planning phase.