MORE time is to be given to the company which wants to build a controversial wood-burning biomass power station on the Isle of Wight.
It is more than two years since Island-based consortium, Real Ventures, was first granted preferred bidder status by the Isle of Wight Council for the site of the former local authority rubbish dump off Stag Lane, between Newport and Cowes.
Tonight's (Tuesday) cabinet meeting agreed to another 12 month extension of that status to give the developer more time to prepare an environmental assessment to cover ground monitoring and the disposal of waste ash, which it needs to do to get planning permission.
The meeting was told the biomass plant would generate 49 megawatts of electricity and have a positive impact on the Island's carbon footprint, but delay meant the site had been subject to trespass and use by riders of mini-motorbikes.
At the meeting council leader Cllr David Pugh, deputy council leader Cllr George Brown and cabinet member for environment and transport declared personal interest connections with directors of Real Ventures, but strongly denied allegations of closer relationships following questions from the public and Labour member Cllr Geoff Lumley.