COUNCIL representatives and officials from Powys have been given a guided tour of an Energy-from-Waste facility in Worcestershire to see what they could expect if a similar scheme in Buttington is given the go-ahead.

Renewable energy developer Broad Energy arranged the visit to the EnviRecover site, in Hartlebury, Kidderminster, on Friday.

The group shown around the £165 million facility included Powys County Councillor Amanda Jenner, Trewern Community Council clerk, Angela Evans, Flintshire County Council’s North Wales mineral and waste shared planning service manager Gary Nancarrow and senior minerals and waste planning officer, Robin Wynne Williams, and Powys County Council environmental health officer Dan Stykuc.

Broad Energy wants to create a new energy recovery facility which it says could help Powys generate low-carbon energy capable of powering 20,000 homes.

Plans were unveiled last year for the energy recovery facility (ERF) which could be built at Buttington Quarry, Welshpool, and would be designed, built and operated under an Environmental Permit by Hitachi Zosen Inova (HZI), a global leader in delivering energy projects.

It will see up to 150,000 tonnes of non-recyclable waste transformed into low-cost, low-carbon electricity.

The proposal followed a top-level report which revealed that more than three quarters of Powys' energy requirements were met by renewable energy last year.

Alistair Hilditch-Brown, chief executive of the Broad Group, said the visit had been a great learning exercise for stakeholders ahead of the forthcoming pre-application consultation.

“Although the EnviRecover facility has a higher waste capacity at 200,000 tonnes than our planned ERF at Buttington, which will receive up to 150,000 tonnes, it was still incredibly useful for stakeholders to understand the overall process,” said Mr Hilditch-Brown.

“While we couldn’t answer project-specific questions due to the limitations placed upon us by the statutory planning process, the visit provided a great opportunity for everyone to understand the mechanics behind such a facility and to see what we’re hoping to achieve at Buttington.”

We’re committed to engaging with local stakeholders and the public to gather as many views as possible on our proposals.

The planned ERF will create around 300 construction jobs and 35 permanent, skilled jobs when operational. Broad Energy is planning to work with local employment providers to ensure Powys residents get the first chance to secure jobs at the site.

A six-week consultation period is due to start in the coming months and residents, businesses, local organisations and councillors will be invited to share their views on the development.

Further details are available on the project website www.broadenergywales.co.uk where people can also leave their feedback on the development.

Other stakeholders were invited to the EnviRecover site but who were unable to attend – see the list below for full details:

• Nigel Brinn, Head of Waste and Recycling Powys County Council

• Ashley Collins, Waste and Recycling Strategy Manager Powys County Council

• Andy Rees, Head of Waste Strategy Welsh Government

• Russell George, Welsh Assembly Member

• Joyce Watson, Welsh Assembly Member Regional

• Neil Hamilton, Welsh Assembly Member Regional

• Helen Mary Jones, Welsh Assembly Member Regional

• Francesca Jump, Powys County Council Councillor (local)

• Gillian Corfield, Powys County Council Councillor (local)

• Martin Weale, Powys County Council Councillor (Planning and Economy)

• Glyn Davies, Member of Parliament

• Colin Jenkins,

• Headteacher – Trewern Buttington Primary School