Electricity plan for waste gases

Campaigners are still opposed to landfill operations at the site

A company which runs a controversial landfill tip at Wrexham's Hafod Quarry plans to generate electricity from waste gases.

The gases are currently burned off using a landfill flare.

Cory Environmental Resource Management (CERM), which owns the quarry, hopes to export electricity from the Johnstown site and sell it to the National Grid.

Pauline Smout, chair of the Hafod Environmental Group (HEG), said she was "very concerned" about emissions.

Despite numerous challenges by HEG, landfill operations were allowed in 2006.

We would hope any standards are regularly assessed Pauline Smout, environmental campaigner

In September 2008, the site was bought from Mersey Waste Holdings by London-based Cory Environmental Ltd.

The firm now wants to produce "renewable" energy which it says will be more environmentally friendly.

In a planning application submitted to Wrexham Council, it says: "It is estimated that construction would take approximately six months.

"Once constructed, the landfill gas engines will be operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week for the lifetime of the landfill and for the subsequent period whilst sufficient gas is being generated to sustain the plant."

It adds: "The proposed development also helps combat climate change through generating electricity from the landfill gas, thereby avoiding the need to generate an equivalent amount of energy from burning fossil fuels."

Campaigner Pauline Smout said she was still opposed to the landfill site, but said it "makes sense" for it to generate electricity while it operates.

But she added: "I'm very concerned about the emissions. We believe the gas flares are safer to run because you can control the temperature of them and control the noxious gases.

"We would hope any standards are regularly assessed."

Wrexham Council confirmed an application had been received, but no date had yet been fixed for its consideration.