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Why Bishop's Castle site is so unsuitable for biomass plant WITH regard to plans for a biomass plant at Bishop's Castle, much has already been written about emissions and monitoring, particularly for PM2.5s, so I will confine my comments to the suitability of the site at Crowgate.

I understand the following are some of the recommendations developers are urged to consider by the Environment Agency when making planning applications for such plants.

1. Should be as far as possible from residential areas in all directions. In Bishop's Castle, a residential area, is approximately 300 metres away.

2. Should be as far away from schools as possible. Bishop's Castle Community College is approx 300 metres away.

3. Should be away from playing fields. The school and community playing fields are approx 300 metres away.

4. Be as far away from crops and livestock as possible. There are four dairy herds, together with several hectares of arable crops within a short distance.

5. Be as far as possible from allotments. Allotments within 100 metres.

6. Should not be located in a valley, or near other terrain that restricts the dispersal of air pollutants. The site is located in a valley bottom which is frequently subjected to atmospheric inversion.

7. Should not be located above a groundwater aquifer.

The site is directly above the aquifer that supplies Bishop's Castle and an extensive surrounding area with water.

I could go on, in as much that the developers do not have to prove economic viability as part of their planning application. My dictionary tells me that to incinerate means to reduce to ash.

Isn't this what this plant does? By incorporating the terms bio' or eco' with a product or system should not mean automatic acceptance. We, like the rest of the world face a formidable energy shortfall; in attempting to solve it let's not shoot ourselves or our neighbour in the foot.

Harry Round, Bowling Green Close, Bishop's Castle.

Unknown risks are facing community IT would be amusing if it were not so deadly serious to note that the directors of the proposed biomass power plant and other correspondents to your paper on this matter do not live in Bishop's Castle.

So they, their children and their grandchildren will not be exposed to the as yet unknown and unquantifiable risks to the environment by the airborne particles, too small to filter which are the most hazardous to growing children, and to the probable contamination of the aquifers running into our borehole next door to the proposed plant.

Call us Nimbies if you like, but I fear the long-term environmental dangers for our grandchildren.

Dr St John Penney, Lane House, Bishop's Castle.

Thank you for having the heart to help THE British Heart Foundation would like to thank all your enthusiastic readers who signed up to join our team of volunteers working across Shropshire during our autumn recruitment drive.

Without volunteers the nation's heart charity would not be able to raise vital funds to invest in our groundbreaking research into heart disease, provide vital care and support for heart patients in Shropshire or help people keep their hearts healthy.

We still have vacancies for event organisers and hearty fundraising groups, who work hard organising and overseeing their own events.

If you are interested in finding out more about these roles or for more information about volunteering at the British Heart Foundation, call Sian Syddall on 01905 797807 or visit bhf.org.uk/volunteer.

Sian Syddall, Volunteer Manager, British Heart Foundation, PO Box 175, Droitwich, Worcestershire.

Kindly supporters have heard our pleas ON behalf of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, I would like to thank everyone for being so generous in their support.

Special thanks must go to GKN Autostructures of Telford and Tom Peel of Church Stretton.

Without the generosity of the public we would not be able to give hearing impaired people the confidence and independence to live a near normal life. Thank you.

It is the 25th anniversary of the founding of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People and we have over the last year been able to raise in excess of £7,000 for the charity thanks to the generosity of people throughout Shropshire.

Tom Kane, Purbeck Dale, Dawley, Telford.

Generous help for families of firefighters TENBURY firefighters collected £1,000 in the town centre for the families of four Warwickshire comrades who died in the warehouse fire near Stratford-upon-Avon.

The sum was raised in four hours on Saturday, November 17.

People were very generous. We are very pleased with the amount which will go to the special fund set up to give the families immediate help and in the longer term towards a memorial.

Dan James, Benevolent Fund Representative, Tenbury Fire Station, Teme Street.

Clee Hill Rovers enjoy golden anniversary WE would like to thank the Advertiser very much for the publicity that was given regarding the 50th anniversary reunion of Clee Hill Rovers Football Club.

The outcome was a very well attended evening of ex-players, wives and partners.

On behalf of all the guests we would like to thank Gerald Edwards very much indeed for organising the event and providing us all with a lovely supper. It was much appreciated by all.

Jan and Mick Merrick, Castle View Terrace, Ludlow.

4:47pm Friday 30th November 2007

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