Did secret meetings take place to switch biomass plant to Portsmouth?

The plan to build a giant biomass power station to the city’s docks sparked fierce protests from residents and environmental groups.

But did secret meetings between city council chiefs aimed at switching the controversial £300 million scheme to neighbouring Portsmouth inadvertently backfire?

Critics fear dealings between former council boss Cllr Richard Williams and the neighbouring authority will encourage Helius Energy – the company behind the huge plant – to push through two stations in the area.

Yesterday the Daily Echo revealed that initial talks have taken place between the Ministry of Defence and Helius Energy to build one at the Portsmouth’s naval base.

It follows the company submitting a planning application in 2011 for one in Southampton Docks prompting demonstrations and complaints from residents.

But it has emerged that Portsmouth City Council facilitated the talks between the navy and the energy firm after being approached by Southampton City Council.

Councillors from Southampton’s Labour authority stress that providing an alternative site will encourage the company to build it in the neighbouring c i t y instead.

T h e y point out t h a t Portsmouth needs a new power station in its dockyard to meet extra demand ahead of proposals to build two new aircraft carriers there.

Yesterday Portsmouth City Council leader Cllr Gerald Vernon- Jackson warned a new power plant was crucial to keep the lights on in the city if the huge navy project goes ahead.

But opposition Tory politicians and campaigners claim it will only strengthen the company’s desire to create two plants in the area.

Tory leader Cllr Royston Smith – who heard “whispers” that Cllr Williams was negotiating with people in Portsmouth – said: “I don’t see how the company would see it as a tradeoff.

“What he’s done is made it more financially viable for them and much more difficult for those campaigning against it.

“If they have two on the south coast close together the economy of scale for shipping wood into the area is much easier.

“They are a company that wants to make money and they are likely to want to have the Portsmouth site as well.

“It’s naive in the extreme – he’s shot himself in the foot and it’s duping residents into thinking it’s a good thing.”

The 100 megawatt wood-fuelled plant would power up to 200,000 homes and Helius claims it will save 470,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from b e i n g belched into the air compared to an average fossil fuel plant.

But there are fears it will cause a fire risk and pollution for residents because it is 250 metres from homes in Millbrook and Freemantle.

His colleague Cllr Jeremy Moulton who represents the Freemantle ward said: “Helius have been absolutely clear they intend to request the Southampton site.

“All this meddling has made it much more likely that there will be a power station in Southampton if there is one in Portsmouth “He’s given them more reason to come to Hampshire and the prospect of two power stations is a disaster.

Steve Galton from No S o u t h a m p t o n Biomass campaign group said: “It’s disappointing that all these things have been going on behind the scenes “The effort should be going into stopping projects like this being built not just moving them somewhere else.

“It’s going to back fire and have the opposite effect.

“My fear is we will not be fighting one close to us we will be fighting two in the region.”

Cllr Williams was unavailable for comment before the Daily Echo went to press but Labour Freemantle ward councillor Dave Shields said the negotiations represented a “tactical solution”.

He denied the company would create two sites so close together and added: “The ball is in our court and if they decide to come up with proposals to put it in Southampton we can respond and say there is an alternative.”

Yesterday Hampshire Chamber of Commerce refused to comment on Cllr Williams’ actions, but chamber board policy member Nick Farthing said a plant in either city would help meet the region’s energy needs.

He added: “We are going to have to meet the demands somehow and if biomass is appropriate it’s got to be a good idea - especially if it brings local jobs to the area.”

No-one from Associated British Ports (ABP) was available for comment as the Echo went to press.

Michael Biggs, 35, who lives Saxon Road, said: “We could do with the jobs but it’s going to be right outside my house and I’ve already got enough with the railway and the dual carriageway to put up with.”

“If Portsmouth wants it and Southampton doesn’t want it then why should we still have it?”

His neighbour Jan Fletcher said: “If it’s going to Portsmouth fair enough.

“We don’t want it here as there is enough industry in this area.”