A DARK DAY FOR DEMOCRACY

Following the IPC (Infrastructure Planning Commission) decision to grant permission for a giant incinerator at Green Lane, Stewartby, local Liberal Democrat Borough Councillor Tim Hill said "This is a very dark day for democracy. An unelected, unaccountable quango that is soon to be be abolished has decided in its final decision, to leave this legacy for the residents of Stewartby and the wider Marston Vale. The residents of Stewartby and the wider Marston Vale will now suffer the consequences of a decision made by three Commisioners in their ivory tower who know little or care nothing for the area, a decision that is illogical, daft, in fact just plain wrong.

Incineration is an inferior waste treatment technology. There are a number of more advanced processes available which maximise recovery and recycling of materials.

To simply dump hundreds of thousands of tonnes of unsorted rubbish into a giant furnace is outdated, and unnecessarily damaging for our environment. The plant's enormous capacity will also work against all sound environmental principles of reducing, reusing and recycling waste. It's an insult to households in the borough which are recycling more and more waste each year.

This vast blot on the landscape will need feeding 24 hours a day, and will be drawing in rubbish from a huge area. All of the waste will come in by lorry, with 600 journeys a day in and out of the site over local roads, damaging local air quality and the well-being of local communities.

Mayor Dave Hodgson and Cllr Tim Hill made these points at each stage of the process to the IPC, who heard loud and clear from residents that the plant will cause real harm to local quality of life. Meanwhile, technical and environmental submissions from the local Councils laid bare the plans' fundamental flaws.

Cllr Tim Hill has personally lobbied the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change asking them to intervene to overturn this disgraceful decision. Of course the Environment Agency are yet to give its approval and to date Covanta have no significant customers so the economics of the incinerator still don't stack up. In the meantime, Cllr Tim Hill urges everyone who hasn't already done so to sign the petition set up by the non-party political Marston Moreteyne Action Group at :

http://www.gopetition.co.uk/petitions/stop-covanta-building-an-efwincinerator-plant/sign.html

If you would prefer to sign a paper petition this is available at the following locations in Marston Moreteyne - Ingle and Caves Butchers, Marston Fish and Chip Shop and Marston Club.