Severn Trent has announced in a letter to Winwick Parish Council that it proposes to build an anaerobic digestion facility on a field adjacent to Highfield Road and junction 22 of the M6 in Winwick.
Anaerobic digestion facilities break down organic waste to produce biogas, which can be used as a renewable energy resource.
Severn Trent says that the facility would be able to recycle up to 75,000 tonnes per year of separately collected food and organic waste, generating up to 7MWth of green gas for export to the national grid.
In a statement, Winwick Parish Council said: “We have received a letter from Severn Trent Green Power advising of a proposed development of an anaerobic digestion biogas plant in Winwick on Highfield Lane.
“At very short notice, Severn Trent has organised a ‘public event’ to take place at Winwick Leisure Centre in the main hall on Monday, January 27, between 2pm and 7pm.
“If permitted, this proposed development will affect everyone in the village and beyond. If you can, please attend the public event.
“Should anyone have any questions whatsoever, please contact Winwick Parish Council via winwickparishcouncil.org.uk/contact-us or email Cllr Stuart Mann on cllrstuart.mann@warrington.gov.uk.”
Local councillors have also raised concern that the field is home to a historic Bronze Age ‘bowl barrow’ – or burial mound – believed to date from between 2400BCE and 1500 BCE
Croft parish councillor Cheyvonne Bower, an active member of the Croft History Group, said: “The bowl barrow is designated a scheduled monument by Historic England.
“Its condition is already considered to be declining and at significant risk due to the field being regularly ploughed.
“When it was listed in 1969, the mound was described as being 1.2metres high, with dimensions of approximately 30 metres in each direction, but today it has been almost completely flattened.
“I raised this issue with Charlotte Nichols MP earlier this month, prior to the notification from Severn Trent. Charlotte has been supportive and has since contacted Historic England.
Cllr Matt Smith, from the neighbouring ward of Culcheth, Glazebury, and Croft, added: “We all recognise the importance of developing green energy resources and addressing the climate emergency.
“But historical sites like this are rare, and are significant parts of both our local and national heritage.
“Construction within the field containing the barrow is unthinkable, especially given the lack of detailed modern investigations into the site and its surroundings.
“We all have a responsibility to protect locations like this. I have written to Severn Trent to express my concerns.”
Cllr Kevin Burgess, representing Burtonwood and Winwick ward, added: “I understand the importance of local history to residents and to the wider community.
“In addition to opposing this proposal myself, I will work with residents to campaign against the plans in their current form.
“I urge Severn Trent to consider a more suitable location for this facility.
“Instead of allowing important historic sites like this to be destroyed, we should be raising awareness of their value and ensuring they are preserved for future generations.
“There must be countless other more appropriate sites available.”
In response to the plans, one Winwick resident said: “These plants give off a smell like bad eggs, and there is also an impact to a health impact to people from the gases that are emitted.
“The site is too close houses in the area, and environmental impact to children and adults should be enough to stop this being built.
“Also, the impact on people’s property values will be costly. Who will move to the area with the smell of bad eggs?”
Severn Trent says it plans to submit a planning application to Warrington Borough Council in the near future.