A councillor who has serious doubts about the effectiveness of a new “energy centre” on Bletchley’s Lakes Estate had his concerns dismissed by a cabinet member.
The £4 million green energy centre has been proposed to generate heat and hot water on the Lakes Estate and is included in multi-million pound regeneration plans for the area.
But Tory councillor Allan Rankine (Bletchley Park) has his doubts about promises that it will be able to cut residents’ energy bills by a whopping 70 per cent.
He was told that the waste-to-energy system used established technology and advised to “speak to the experts” so he could learn more about it.
Speaking at a meeting of the cabinet on Tuesday Cllr Rankine said he welcomed regeneration of the Lakes Estate.
A planning application is due to be decided next month (October), the meeting heard.
Requesting an “urgent review” he said he was concerned that heating systems such as this are “often operated by a single supplier” where people are locked into 25 year contracts.
He added that heating can be inconsistent and more expensive, which causes people to stop using them and buy their own radiators.
“This creates mould and damp and we are then back to square one,” he warned.
“It will be a repeat of 1968 when Lakes residents were told their new systems were innovative and wonderful.
“That system caused fuel poverty and health issues and was completely ripped out in 2014 at great expense to Milton Keynes Council.”
And he added that: “Lakes Estate residents are among the poorest and most vulnerable in the city.
“Our first priority should be their health and welfare and it seems that instead we are imposing unnecessary risks.”
He urged cabinet member Emily Darlington not to go ahead with heating system “experiments”.
“They should get tried and tested and effective and affordable heating systems as a matter of priority,” he said.
Cllr Darlington (Lab), whose Bletchley East ward includes the Lakes Estate said she the scheme would reduce carbon and tackle fuel poverty.
“Waste to energy schemes are not a new technology, it is an essential investment,” she said.
She told Cllr Rankine to “spend some time with the experts so you can understand it better.”
The cabinet formally agreed to a procurement policy, so they could be ready to go with regeneration when plans are approved.
The policy includes using local companies and creating local employment.
