William Sinclair’s appeal against Salford Council’s refusal to allow them to resume harvesting peat at Chat Moss has been turned down by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Owen Paterson.

The council had argued that harvesting would lead to significant CO2 emissions. The minister said the release of peat resources in Chat Moss would “frustrate the move from peat to non-peat media and discourage the development and take up of peat substitutes.”

Sinclair’s CEO Bernard Burns, who steps down next year, said he was disappointed at the Minister's decision and viewed the government’s policy on peat as “incoherent”. The company would now now have to rely on more expensive peat imports, which will be in short supply for 2013 because of this year’s weather. Chat Moss was closer to consumers than alternative supplies, so shorter transport distances would produce lower emissions. Peat would still be required for many years  to come during the phasing out process demanded by the government.

Sinclair is increasing its production capacity of SuperFyba, a peat alternative made from woody ‘oversize’ parts of green waste. Burns said the company was in an ideal position to take advantage of the move toward non-peat growing media.

Sinclair are still seeking compensation from the Government after agreeing to halt peat extraction from Bolton Fell.