Last Wednesday, a group of Midsomer Norton residents and Extinction Rebellion activists travelled to the headquarters of energy provider, Conrad Energy, to deliver an open letter and a petition signed by over 1,600 local residents protesting against the installation of a gas-fuelled power station close to schools and housing.

Over recent weeks the town has seen much activity with an extensive leaflet drop, frequent banner protests, lobbying of Councillors, door-to-door canvassing and local press coverage following the launch of the campaign on Clean Air Day on 8th

October.

Resident Luisa Kozlowski said: “We gained over 1,500 signatures on the petition in just over two weeks and the total is now over 1,600. It shows just how angry people are about this power station, only 175 metres from the local school.

“We’re delivering a letter to Conrad Energy, which calls on them to consider an alternative option. They’ve installed battery storage units in three other locations in England and we’re asking for the same here. We’re not going away. We’ll carry on protesting for the sake of our children’s health.

The Campaign for No Gas-fuelled Power Station in Midsomer Norton unites residents with other environmental groups, including Extinction Rebellion Bath. The site on Midsomer Enterprise Park is 100 metres from the nearest house, 175 metres from Welton Primary School and 300 metres from Welton Free Rangers Forest School Nursery.

Stephanie Laslett, of XR Bath, said: “B&NES have declared a Climate Emergency aiming for carbon neutral by 2030 and yet they gave this scheme the go-ahead. It is complete hypocrisy.”

Abi Nimmo, local resident, said: “These generators produce toxic emissions which will be drifting across a large part of Midsomer Norton and beyond. The calculations show it will produce the same amount of pollution as 400 cars churning out fumes outside the school.

“They are known to cause health problems, such as asthma. How can this be allowed right next to a primary and nursery school and people’s homes? What kind of message are we giving our future generations? I’m baffled and appalled by this decision, especially made so soon after B&NES declared a climate emergency.”

The site is a conservation area with an important biodiversity including a wet woodland area, river, bats and owls. Abi added: “Our green areas are dwindling, but they are very much needed for both our physical and mental wellbeing.”

The Mayor of Radstock, environmental biologist Dr Rupert Bevan, said: “To the east and north east are the hills and batches of the Somerset coalfield and with the prevailing wind coming from the south west, gas plant emissions will tend to migrate towards Radstock.

“Radstock already acts as a sump for local exhausts and the loading of considerable extra emissions from the gas plant will cause problems for residents living in the bottom of the valley.

“I think the calculations used by the promoters and accepted by the planners to justify the gas energy plant in Midsomer Norton are seriously flawed. And unless (an adequate scrubbing plant is also constructed to treat the toxic emissions) there will be serious implications for both the inhabitants of the immediate 25 km2 and for those living downstream in Radstock.”

If readers wish to do so, they can sign the petition at: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/a-big-no-to-use-of-fossil-fuels