A ambitious scheme to turn methane gas at Pitsea's landfill site into enough power to supply 12,000 homes is close to getting off the ground.

Plans are afoot to turn the pongs from the tip into electricity that will be routed directly into the national grid.

First a 33kv overhead power line needs to be built across Bowers Marshes to link a power generating methane plant to the national grid.

Cleanaway, which runs the Pitsea landfill site, has already won planning permission from Essex County Council to build a methane conversion plant which could power thousands of homes, but it must now find a way of connecting to the national electricity grid.

This involves erecting an overhead line, supported by wooden poles, running for 700 metres from close to the generator to other overhead lines close to the horse and pony sanctuary.

Part of the line would run underground. The rest would run parallel to an existing line in the area.

Basildon Council's countryside manager has expressed concern that the line will run beside and across one of the most significant wildlife habitats on the marshes.

He said it would also obstruct migration routes for birds, when significant attempts have been made to encourage more birds into the area.

English Nature stressed that details need to be finalised for how work installing the line will be carried out in the areas of significant scientific interest.

A spokesman for Basildon Council said: "This council's preferred option would be the complete undergrounding of the power line, although the applicant states that such a route would be more expensive and Cleanaway Ltd has indicated that it would make the methane conversion project unprofitable."

The matter is due to be discussed at a meeting of the east Basildon area committee being held at Pitsea Leisure Centre tonight.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.