COUNCIL chiefs insist the health of Lostock and Rudheath residents is a top priority after calls for an independent air quality review were quashed.

Cllr Mark Stocks, Conservative member for Shakerley, last week urged members of Cheshire West and Chester Council to give the green light for an independent environmental study after a rise in the number of lorries travelling along King Street.

But members of the ruling Labour group agreed that CWAC should undertake its own review of air quality in the area instead.

It comes as three energy plants are expected to be running from the Lostock Works site in the coming years – with the first already in operation.

Brian Cartwright, chairman of Cheshire Anti-Incinerator Network (CHAIN), told councillors last Thursday that residents will be faced with an ‘unacceptable and undesirable’ situation.

He said: “When all three plants are in operation there will be 650 HGVs traversing King Street and Griffiths Road per day – the equivalent to 54 per hour, 7am to 7pm, 52 weeks a year.

“Are we really serious that this situation is manageable?”

Tata is currently waiting on a Government decision over whether it can ramp up the power at its forthcoming Lostock Works plant from 60 megawatts (MW) to 90 MW.

Cllr Stocks warned that the situation is a real cause for concern – and labelled the Government’s decision to allow the plant back in 2012 ‘a huge mistake’.

He said: “You are going to get an awful lot of vehicle diesel pollution coming in, and I think it is appropriate that this council should have an independent commission set up to truly understand the impact that this will have in mid Cheshire.

“Don’t forget – this council has invested, despite the austere times we live in, £80 million in Northwich.

“The last thing we need is 650 wagons and the pollution that’s going to generate to stifle the demand for Northwich’s new vision.”

Cllr Karen Shore, cabinet member for environment, proposed that the council should instead continue its own air quality monitoring in the area.

Following a similar situation in his own ward, Cllr Andrew Dawson, Conservative member for Frodsham, warned residents would prefer an independent take on the matter.

He said: “The people did not trust the authorities. They did trust the independent expert, and by removing that independence I think we risk the people not trusting the outcome.”

Debate on the matter was brought to a premature halt after chairman Cllr Bob Rudd gave Cllr Stocks another chance to speak – when he should have had the final say according to council rules.

That meant no other Northwich councillor made their point before the vote took place.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Cllr Shore said: “The council has been monitoring levels of the main pollutant, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) on the A530 between Rudheath and Lostock for a number of years.

“In 2017, the levels of NO2 were 33.9 micrograms per cubic metre (ug/m³) – well below national and EU annual targets. At the nearest residential building it was 28.2ug/m³.

“Earlier this year, following concerns raised by local residents and the parish council, we decided to re-establish the monitoring site on Griffiths Road. Initial indications are that NO2 levels continue to be well below the threshold.”

CWAC also says there are no material planning grounds on which it can object to Tata’s application to increase its power capacity at Lostock Works – but insists it still has concerns.

Cllr Brian Clarke, cabinet member for economic development and regeneration, said: “We have asked for a new application to be submitted and we are still awaiting a reply.

“We do listen to the people of Rudheath and Lostock and will continue to lobby the Government to do the right thing regarding the waste-to-energy site.”

Meanwhile, Cllr Louise Gittins, cabinet member for communities and wellbeing, has pledged to set up a stakeholder group for residents – stating she is ‘determined to work with them’.