FIDDLER'S Ferry managers say a new ash processing plant will have a 'minimal' impact on the area.

Construction work is due to begin in weeks and it will eventually process around half-a-million tonnes of waste ash a year.

But station manager, Mark Hayward, said the level of construction traffic will be 'small' and when the plant is running in 15-20 months time, the majority of the ash will be transported away by rail.

The plant will be built by RockTron - and will be the first of its type in the UK.

Ian Marchant, chief executive of station owners Scottish Power, said: "I have no doubt that we have in this development, a potential solution to the long-standing issue of ash production from coal-fired power stations."

Final permission for the £17m build is awaiting a decision on some design principles from Warrington Borough Council.

Mr Hayward said it would meet all the council guidelines and noise and impact.

"We are doing all we can to minimise the impact on our neighbours," he said.

The ash is currently mixed with water to form a slurry, before it separates and settles into 'lagoons', leaving the water to be reused by the station.

The plant will be built by the southern towers, and it will process 300,000 to 600,000 tonnes of 'lagoon' ash per year which should eradicate the lagoons in around 15 years time.

sbailey@guardiangrp.co.uk