PLANS to build a gas plant in Seacombe are set to be given the go-ahead by councillors tonight despite hundreds of people signing a petition against it.

Zebec Energy wants to build an anaerobic digestion plant – which creates methane gas from waste products – on land off East Street.

They hope to take in 36,000 tonnes of feed stock a year to produce bio-methane, which will then be used to power more than 4,300 homes.

Plans also include a 1.4 mile pipeline to take gas from the site to the National Grid.

The pipeline would go below East Street, Birkenhead Road and Dock Road.

Wirral’s planning committee will meet tonight, Thursday, to discuss the plans. They are recommended for approval.

A petition has been set up against the plans, with 231 people having signed it.

Concerns include the close proximity to houses, the risk on people’s health, heavy increase in traffic and a negative impact on local businesses.

A report to today’s planning meeting says: “In terms of operation, the applicants have advised that the facility would normally operate on a 24/7 basis and when un-staffed would be subject to remote monitoring.

“The site will only be open to receive feedstock and to export digestate from 7am - 6 pm Monday to Friday and 7am - 3pm on Saturdays, during which time the site would be staffed.”

Wirral's planning committee meets at Wallasey Town Hall at 6pm today, Thursday.