VILLAGERS remain opposed to plans to build a new eco-power plant at a landfill site near Didcot.

They spoke out against the proposal for the anaerobic digester after a consultation exhibition at the headquarters of the Waste Recycling Group (WRG) – which runs the site – off Appleford Sidings.

The size of the digester, which will create renewable energy from crops, has been cut from 30,000 tonnes a year capacity to 10,000 tonnes, but people living in neighbouring villages are still opposed to the plan.

This has been partly prompted by a sickening smell pervading villages including Sutton Courtenay in recent weeks from composting on the landfill site.

Father-of-one Callum MacKenzie, 56, of Drayton Road, Sutton Courtenay, who attended the exhibition on Wednesday, said: “I thought the consultation exercise was pretty poor.

“WRG’s site is quite remote and hard to get to and the exhibition should have been held in one of the village halls.

“When there was a consultation on the original proposal for the digester, Sutton Courtenay village hall was so packed with people that WRG were inundated with comments.

“In theory, a digester like this is a good idea but we want this land to be returned to a greenfield site, instead of turning into a massive waste tip on our doorsteps.

“The terrible smells from the composting have not filled me with confidence about WRG’s activities.”

Angela Jones, 52, parish councillor for Appleford, who also attended the exhibition, added: “The difficulty the company has been experiencing lately impacts on the trust we have in them managing other undertakings like this digester.

“We have been ringing up quite frequently in recent weeks about the smell.

“Although this is a scaled-down application, once it has been approved WRG could try to expand the work they are doing.”

According to WRG, anaerobic disgestion technology has been used for many years and is safe and clean to use.

The firm is planning to submit a planning application for the digester to Vale of White Horse District Council next month.

If planning permission is granted, the facility will be operating by next autumn.

WRG’s head of bio-energy Dr Mike Bullar said: “We have been listening to the concerns of people at the exhibition.

“It’s important to realise that this is not a waste facility, it’s an agricultural facility which takes agricultural materials in to produce fertiliser and energy, including electricity.”

WRG had a bid for a £20m waste treatment plant between Sutton Courtenay and Appleford rejected by county councillors in September.

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