Cabinet member questions MP's opposition to geothermal plant

A POLITICAL war of words has broken out over a Cornish MP’s support for residents who are opposed to plans for a geothermal plant in the county.

- by LEE TREWHELA

A member of Cornwall Council’s cabinet says he is so astonished at Ben Maguire's stance he’s asked the Liberal Democrat MP if he’s about to switch to Reform UK.

Cornish company Geothermal Engineering Limited (GEL) has applied to Cornwall Council to develop a deep geothermal renewable energy scheme at Tregath, between Slaughterbridge and Camelford in Mr Maguire’s North Cornwall constituency.

The development would be phased, with two deep geothermal wells being dug and resource tests conducted before the construction of a power plant.

The drill rig mast would be a maximum of 55 metres (182ft) in height. However, local residents - and now their MP - have expressed concerns about its effects on a sensitive site, some asking whether Chinese investment is involved and whether the project could be a front for lithium extraction.

Last month Cornwall Council's strategic planning committee deferred a decision on the application and asked for more technical details after concerns were raised about the impact on the environmentally sensitive River Camel.

Mr Maguire said previously: "This project has moved forward with seemingly no proper public consultation and, for a development of this scale, without environmental or seismic impact assessments.