Thursday, 8th October is Clean Air Day, the UK’s largest air pollution campaign, and locally there will be a protest at 3.15 p.m. by Extinction Rebellion Bath along with local residents and children, and other green groups, on the site of three proposed gas-powered generators 100 metres from Welton Primary School and 200 metres from a Forest Nursery School in Midsomer Norton.

The group says it is backing local residents’ concerns around the planned construction of fossil fuel-powered generators at Midsomer Enterprise Park and will be using Clean Air Day to highlight the dangers to health of air pollution. 

Abi Nimmo, local resident, said: “These generators produce toxic emissions which will be drifting across a large part of Midsomer Norton and beyond. 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.”

Bath XR and local residents are asking Conrad Energy to replace these gas-powered generators with a tried and tested battery option which has far less environmental impact.

Stephanie Laslett, of XR Bath, said: “This fossil fuel generator will have a twenty-five year life. Twenty-five years churning out toxic air and noise pollution. B&NES have declared a Climate Emergency and yet they gave this scheme the go-ahead. It is complete hypocrisy.”

The project was approved by B&NES Council Officers in May 2020 and many local residents were outraged at the lack of consultation.

The decision was made during lockdown without a full committee hearing, leading to concerns that there was insufficient time for full discussion of the impact. 

B&NES Council declared a Climate Emergency last year, committing to make the area carbon neutral by 2030.

The generator will provide standby electricity to supplement the national grid supply at times of high demand.

Cllr Grant Johnson (Labour, Paulton), was opposed to the application and said: “I was told several months ago in a meeting of full cabinet that the leader of our Council met with Conrad Energy to ‘investigate alternative options and mitigations’ for the approved gas generators in Midsomer Norton.

“Some might ask what has happened in that time, but the simple answer is nothing. Residents in Midsomer Norton and across North East Somerset should not accept a Council that goes against its promises, because we will all bear the brunt of this further attack on our local climate.”

In the application’s planning report Midsomer Norton Town Council objected to the proposals, stating concerns over its location, close to residents and the local school. They also had concerns over development of employment land, citing it as an unsuitable location. B&NES Council received 55 objections to the plans.

The B&NES Planning report notes: ‘Given the nature of the proposal, the Bath Environmental Protection Team has been consulted.

‘Within the response received, it is noted that the air quality assessment and methodology is acceptable for the assessment of the generators.

‘The report has shown that there is likely to be no significant effect on air quality in the operational phase from the generators and concentrations remain below air quality objectives.

‘There will be an impact during construction that has not been evaluated, however.

‘The ecologist accepted the conclusions of the

emissions report.’