Mr Dunne said today: "As the Member of Parliament I have received copies of many residents' comments on this application. The decision over this planning application will quite properly be taken by the local planning authority, in this case South Shropshire District Council.
At the beginning of this month I chaired a meeting between the promoters of the scheme (Bishop's Castle Biomass Plant) and leaders of the Bishop's Castle Action Group (BCAG) to provide an opportunity for a calm exchange of views and for residents' natural concerns to be addressed by those promoting this development.
This application is inevitably controversial. There are conflicting policy objectives between encouraging renewable energy and ensuring public health and environmental pollution issues can be reconciled. In my view it is entirely appropriate that the councillors who will be making the decision, and local residents who may be affected by it, have adequate information and time to consider all the data relevant to strike the right balance.
The council has decided to maintain its timetable to review the application but has assured me that any information provided by the promoters will be available for public scrutiny right up until the date of the committee hearing.
I hope the results of my survey will also help inform all concerned about the balance of views in the surrounding area."
