We can stop it!

Monday, 21 December 2009

A TASK FORCE is to be set up to oppose Viridor’s planning application for an incinerator New England Quarry.
The Watermark was near capacity for local MP Gary Streeter’s meeting ‘How can we stop the incinerator?’
Mr Streeter gave a PowerPoint presentation saying he felt the best way to oppose the plan was through opposing the planning application for the site.
He identified three primary grounds to object: access and highway issues, visual impact and environmental issues.
Viridor are one of three bidders offering a waste solution to the South Devon Waste Partnership with their New England Quarry site.
If the company are successful with their bid this will see an Energy From Waste plant at the quarry.
However, Viridor have confirmed that they are seeking planning permission separately to the bid, meaning that even if they are unsuccessful with the SDWP they will still build a waste facility in the quarry.
The company have been looking at transport options for the site and have recently revealed that they plan to send their HGVs through the village of Lee Mill to reach New England.
‘It will be an uphill battle’ explained Mr Streeter ‘but we can win.
‘There are genuinely better options for the incinerator.
‘We can change the future, the planning decision is not a foregone conclusion.’ Mr Streeter proposed an all-party task force with members from local parish councils and opposition groups.
He said that he would be happy to chair the group with the aim to focus on opposing the plans.
‘I don’t intend to lose this one’ he added.
The meeting was then opened to the floor. Frankie Dolan, from EcoIvy, said: ‘I couldn’t care less about politics; I care about my children’s future. I was absolutely horrified to find out about the plans for the incinerator. You haven’t considered the alternatives, incineration does not get rid of the need for landfill.’
Meanwhile others called for more research into other options. Neil Tugwell from Save Our South Hams said he felt Viridor’s business plans were fundamentally flawed. He also said: ‘The health issue is a problem, the environmental impact is enormous and it’s the wrong site and the wrong technology.’
Sally Fairman, from Sparkwell Parish Council and a Lee Mill resident, said: ‘Using the road through Lee Mill is not an option. It already takes more traffic than was ever envisaged. Under the plans there would be a HGV every six minutes, every day of the week. It’s not on!’
Adam Hartley, also a resident of Lee Mill said: ‘I have lived in the village for 21 years and many have lived there longer. We put up with Langage, the industrial estate and Tesco. The village can’t take any more.’
Fellow Lee Mill resident Mark Brewer said: ‘I have the feeling that Lee Mill is a waste ground for Plymouth in general. Lee Mill will die.’
Questions were also raised about the role of Devon County Councillor Roger Croad who, it was suggested, might have conflicting interests due to his position as chairman of the South West Waste Partnership. Luke Pollard, Labour prospective parliamentary candidate for South West Devon said: ‘We need Cllr Croad fighting for Ivybridge. You are the perfect person to lead this campaign. Resolve the conflict? I don’t think you can do both.’
Mr Streeter was asked why he had only came out against the incinerator recently, when he first knew about it in 2006. He answered that he was keeping counsel while Viridor considered their transport options.
It was agreed that a cross-party taskforce would be set up and Mr Streeter drew the meeting to a close, saying: ‘We don’t all agree but it doesn’t stop us from walking together. We will oppose the New England plans and make representations about the use of incineration to the SDWP.‘

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