AN ACTION group claims the installation of three electrical generators could seriously affect people living nearby.

Alkane Energy UK received planning permission in October to build the generators at Lostock Skip Hire in Horwich.

But Bolton Council demanded that reports were drawn up before construction began in Star Lane to prove that nearby residents would not be harmed by pollution.

These have now been submitted, but the Blackrod and Horwich Environmental Action Group says it is still not convinced neighbouring homes would be unaffected by the generators.

A spokesman from the group said: “The Star Lane development is a cause of very great concern as it was passed using delegated authority even though the pollution control officer expressed grave concerns.

“Planning conditions were placed on the development that required the applicant to prove that affected residents would not be adversely affected. Why wasn’t this proved before permission was granted?

“We believe that the application will have serious implications for local residents, some of whom are just 40 metres from the facility. We are really concerned that the applicant’s assessment does not protect local residents.

“Residents must be protected from noise and air pollution and the applicant’s assurances that the facility is acceptable are simply not credible.”

The plan is to build three generators within Unit One at the site as well as three roof-mounted chimney stacks and ventilation flues, three external free-standing electrical transformer units, three fan-cooled radiators and a gas and electricity meter cabinet.

The group claims the noise modelling carried out by the applicant vastly underestimates how loud the generators will be and that a facility that emits nitrogen dioxide should not be built “in an area that already suffers from poor air quality.”

Nigel Moore from Zetland Group, representing Alkane Energy, said: “It’s Alkane’s intention to be a good neighbour and this proposal has been designed accordingly.

“We are now in the formal process of discharging planning conditions that ensure the final development is consistent with the planning consent in October 2016.”