Sutton Bridge residents against plans for a £300m gasifier in the village have been making their feelings known with a moving protest and petition.
Around 60 cars and motorbikes took part in a protest in Sutton Bridge on Saturday, following the presentation of a 940-signature petition to Robert Clark, chairman of South Holland District Council last Wednesday.
Further protests are now planned for Spalding and Sutton Bridge.
EnergyPark Sutton Bridge wants to build a gasifier with 12 80-metre high chimneys on an industrial site at nearby Wingland.
The demonstration, which was organised by The Wash and Sutton Bridge Protection Group, was led by Wingland resident Kevin Wheeler.
Motorists were joined by people waving placards near the Cross Keys Swing Bridge and along Bridge Road.
The group had threatened to gridlock the A17 on the first weekend of the school summer holidays but following talks with police agreed to move the protest into the centre of the village.
Protesters drove around the village twice beeping their horns.
Police were positioned near the swing bridge and along Bridge Road and Neighbourhood policing Sgt Gareth Boxall, said: “The protest passed without any undue disruption.
“Our officers ensured that traffic was allowed to flow smoothly but were able to do that whilst still allowing this protest to take place.
“There were over 50 vehicles involved and everybody complied with the conditions that we had placed on the protest.
“I am very grateful to the organisers and those involved for their cooperation.”
At a full South Holland District Council meeting last Wednesday Shirley Giles (74), one of the residents leading the protests, handed over the petition which asks the district council to call upon the Secretary of State to hold a public inquiry into the EnergyPark Sutton Bridge amended planning application.
Last year the district council planning committee approved the EnergyPark plans, but Mrs Giles fought the council in the High Court and the committee’s decision was found to be unlawful.
