Environmental fears sink geothermal plant scheme

» Councillor Mark Burnett with MP Ben Maguire and members of the campaign group at the proposed geothermal site

- LEE TREWHELA Local Democracy Reporter

A WAR of words broke out at a Cornwall Council meeting when councillors decided the fate of a plan to install a geothermal plant near a protected river.

Opponents accused the company behind the proposal of having no proven track record and not engaging with concerned locals, while the company accused residents of being Nimbys.

Cornish company Geothermal Engineering Limited (GEL) applied to Cornwall Council to develop a deep geothermal renewable energy scheme at Tregath, between Slaughterbridge and Camelford, about 150 metres from a tributary of the River Camel.

The project would involve a phased development with drilling of two deep geothermal wells and resource testing before the construction of a power plant.

If approved, the plant would be operational for 50 years and would supply surplus electricity to the National Grid, powering and heating more than 11,000 homes.

A large number of locals, local councils and the area's Liberal Democrat MP Ben Maguire all opposed the proposal.