Lib Dems Challenge County Council over Incinerator Plans

5.52.00pm GMT Wed 28th Nov 2007

Bedford Borough Lib Dems' objections to the County Council's planned giant incinerator include the fact that it will demand a constant flow of a large amount of rubbish and undermine waste reduction efforts

Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats challenged the County Council's incinerator plans in a council meeting last night.

Lib Dem councillors raised their objections with the County Council's Assistant Director of Waste Andy Smith on the County's proposed waste incinerator at Rookery South Pit at a meeting of the Environment Policy and Review and Development Committee, but were left with more questions than answers over the plans.

Bedford Borough Liberal Democrat Group Leader Coun Michael Headley commented:

"This giant incinerator will demand a massive amount of waste to be burned in it each year, working against the principles of reduce, re-use and recycle. Sadly we heard absolutely nothing last night to reassure local residents that their efforts in these areas will not be undermined by the need for a constant stream of rubbish to be fed to this monster.'

"It seems clear that the environmental impact of the proposed incinerator does not rank highly on the County Council's concerns. It speaks volumes that the work on examining the environmental impact of the plant will only be done at a late stage when a planning application is submitted.'

"This may explain why the County has ignored better environmental options for dealing with waste as it continues its headlong charge towards mass incineration. It would of course be residents, and the local and wider environment, who would pay the price of the County Council's short-sightedness if the incinerator goes ahead."