HEREFORDSHIRE Council has rejected a scheme to install a 10-megawatt biomass boiler at one of the biggest soft fruit farms in the county.

Marden’s S & A Fresh Produce submitted plans to modify an existing agricultural building at Brook Farm to accommodate a boiler to heat the polytunnels during the winter.

The tunnels are currently heated by two 6MW gas boilers to promote plant growth, and are operated most of the day during November to April.

The applicants wanted to install the new boiler which would significantly reduce the running hours of the gas ones, but councillors rejected the scheme over fears of its impact on the area.

Ward councillor Kema Guthrie called on the planning committee to put Marden residents first and reject the plans.

She said: “There is a big question mark over the emissions coming from all these boilers. The cumulative impact surely can’t be good.”

Councillor Guthrie asked how could transporting woodchips to be burnt on site really be good for the environment.

“It’s very difficult to understand how greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced,” she said.

“Noise has also been an ongoing issue, there have been concerns from residents in Woodbine Close and Walkers Green.

“Residents have been disturbed at night and at different times of the day.”

She also raised concerns over the impact on the Three Rivers recreational bridleway and the effect of increased traffic.

Marden parish council also objected to the scheme.

Parish councillor Robin Brook said it would affect nearby roads when the access route along Orchard Green is flooded.

“The lorries will need to go through the village or Sutton or Moreton,” he said.

Eight councillors voted for refusal, three against and two abstained.