On 16th January Neston Community Energy held an open meeting to present a progress report on the Feasibility Study being undertaken to determine the suitability of the former Clayhill landfill site as a solar park.
The meeting was well attended by residents and business representatives of the CH64 area and other stakeholders including Councillors from Cheshire West and Chester and Neston Town Council and Cheshire and Warrington North West Net Zero Hub.
Opening Remarks
Susan Davies, the Chair of Neston Community Energy, welcomed the attendees and explained the importance of community engagement to the work of the organisation which is a community benefit society.
Presentations
Director, Andy Mills, then gave a presentation about how Neston Community Energy came to be formed and the background to how the Feasibility Study came about with the help of Government funding from the Community Energy Fund.
Andy then introduced Sandy Robinson, the lead consultant from Scene, a consultancy which specialises in renewable energy projects.
Sandy presented preliminary designs for a solar scheme and plans were available to be inspected by those present. He explained that the site is owned by Cheshire West and Chester Council who were supportive of the study being undertaken. Geotechnical and ecological surveys were to shortly take place. Work would also be carried out to determine the financial viability of any scheme, including investigating potential local business customers for electricity generated.
It was explained that if the project did progress to development, there would be the need to obtain the necessary consents and planning approval as well to raise the funding. The meeting was told there would be a further open meeting in March when the study had been completed.
Discussion
There was a lively question and answer session. Questions covered a range of topics including how Neston Community Energy could benefit the local community, to the technical details of issues concerning the development of a former landfill site.
The meeting concluded with Susan explaining why it was important for people to get involved and also join as members. This was a way, she said, of ensuring everyone in the CH64 area had an influence in the decisions about which projects were adopted and the ways in which members of the community would like to see their community benefit. She went on to say that a large and active membership was essential for bringing local skills and experience to Neston Community Energy’s activities and would strengthen its appeal to grant funders and investors. Members would also have the opportunity to invest in a project where a community share issue was used to finance it.
There will be a further meeting in March.
