PROTESTORS took to the streets of Redcar today as concerns mount over plans for a government trial to heat up to 1,800 homes with hydrogen in the town.

This morning a 200 strong group marched along the High St to the Redcar clock tower chanting: “What do we want? A vote.”

The atmosphere in the town has becoming increasingly tense following a recent public meeting where independent experts - including Cambridge Professor David Cebon - raised safety concerns.

An announcement confirming the government backed trial in the North Yorkshire town, (pop 136,000) is expected in the next few weeks. It comes just four months after a similar trial planned in Whitby, Ellesmere Port was shelved after local concerns.

Local residents Dr Craig Harrison and his wife Val, joined the march and live in the trial area.

"I can’t believe that a PM from North Yorkshire is letting this happen. It’s like something from an authoritarian regime,” Dr Harrison said.

“The fact the gas company can legally come into your house and force you to use a different method of heating is a concern,” he said.

“It’s dangerous, disruptive and expensive and it certainly won’t be levelling up the North,” Val Harrison added. “We have an awful lot of questions and Northern Gas Networks don’t seem to have any answers.”

Another resident, Julie Mowatt, said she had tenants who lived in the area scheduled to be part of the trial. She said: “I’m very concerned for my tenants. This is being forced on us and it’s just not right. Hydrogen molecules are very small and inclined to leak and these houses have 100 year old pipework.

“They are building new houses nearby and they could install new pipework and test it there, but there housebuilders know no one would buy a house that is run on hydrogen gas.”

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Councillor Carrie Marie Richardson, (Labour) who has previously spoken out in favour of the trial, said the turnout highlighted the trial was now becoming “a big issue” for the town.

On Friday, Northern Gas Network announced plans to hold a public meeting about the trial on December 18th, following considerable local pressure, Campaigner and Redcar resident Dawn Campbell said: “This campaign is growing fast, it’s getting national coverage and it can grow a lot more.”

A grandmother of two, she said: “People are concerned for a number of reasons. They’re not being asked about what will be done to their properties.

“The Health & Safety Executive also spent five years researching this project and recommended houses in the trial have vents installed, but now the trial has disregarded that advice and recommended censors.

“Many people are worried about what happens if these go off when they’re not home or on holiday, and hydrogen is accumulating in your house.

“Hydrogen is also twice the price of gas. We’re all struggling. People can’t afford to heat their homes and they are worrying what will happen after the trial, and if they will have to pay a higher price for their gas.”

In a statement addressed to Redcar residents Northern Gas Networks, CEO Mark Horsley, said: “There is absolutely no scenario in which we would ever install a product in anyone’s home or community that compromised their safety. To claim otherwise is false, and I’ve been disappointed to see unevidenced rumours circulating.”

Mr. Horsley also said no-one would be left out of pocket by the trial. “Our promise to you is that no-one involved in the project will pay more than what they’re paying now – both during and after the project. Any suggestion otherwise is entirely untrue,” he said.

Local newspapers have reported that the gas company has been going door-to-door to try and allay residents concerns.

However, residents have questioned the company’s transparency in the absence of crucial information, raising concerns about the process.

The energy commentator Michael Liebreich, one of those who addressed the resident's meeting said: “I can understand the residents' anger. They are having this trial foisted on them while big questions remain unanswered.

"Five years of work by independent engineers have concluded that you need permanently open vents near the ceiling of every room with hydrogen appliance. Now, all of a sudden, the gas provider is proposing hydrogen sensors instead. That puts the responsibility for safety on the resident and is against the HSE advice to the minister.

"If residents don't want hydrogen in their homes, they can have an electric heating alternative - but they have not been given assurances about running costs, not just during the trial, but afterwards. Expecting them to go back to gas boilers in two years time - which would put them through enormous additional disruption."

Critics have highlighted the choice of Redcar for the trial, where living standards are comparatively low and which has an unemployment rate that is persistently high.

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