Incinerator? It's an abomination: expert
A UNITED NATIONS waste disposal adviser has described a proposed incinerator in Lee Mill as being an "abomination".
Last night Dr Paul Connett, one of the world's leading experts in waste management, gave a short lecture in Ivybridge entitled 'Incineration: A poor solution for the 21st century'.
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SPEAKER: Dr Paul Connett talks at The Watermark in Ivybridge
Addressing the meeting of about 60 people, he claimed the planned incinerator at the disused New England quarry would lead to 'health and environmental problems'.
"I think it's preposterous how a private company can come in and change the whole character of the area," he said.
"You cannot hide an incinerator. It would be an eyesore in the area and an abomination."
Dr Connett took part in the meeting at The Watermark after accepting an invitation by the organisers from the Save Our South Hams and Eco Ivy groups.
He said rather than build the £100million incinerator, the Government and Devon County Council need to "go back to the drawing board" and consider other waste management options.
"We need to manage our waste and learn to live more sustainably," he added.
"An incinerator is not the way to do it. It wastes time, energy and money.
"It would also lead to health and environmental problems."
Last night's meeting was called after waste company Viridor applied for an environmental permit for the proposed incinerator.
The company has already submitted a planning application to build an incinerator at the site.
It has now submitted its environmental permit application to the Environment Agency.
Neil Tugwell, a founding member of Save Our South Hams, said: "There is a very strong feeling in the community. The feeling in Ivybridge is 'how can they do this to us?'
"People are very concerned about the health risks and whether the dioxins from the burning rubbish will cause birth defects and respiratory problems.
"They're also upset at the lack of consultation. We feel like we are walking off a cliff with blindfolds on." He said that Viridor had not been invited to attend the meeting.
Chris Westwood, who lives near the proposed site, said: "It is the wrong place and the wrong technology. We all feel the same. We will fight hard against this."
An Ivybridge resident, Peter Brooks, added: "I don't disagree with incinerators, but this is the wrong place. To have a mega plant receiving waste from across the South West would be ridiculous."
The Lee Mill site, along with sites in Ernesettle and in North Yard at Devonport, has been shortlisted for an energy from waste (EfW) plant to handle domestic rubbish produced by households in Plymouth, Torbay and South Devon.
Viridor is in competition with MVV Umwelt, which wants to build on the Ernesettle and North Yard sites, but says it will go ahead at New England Quarry regardless of who wins.
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by Annie, The Plymouth side of South Hams!
Saturday, February 20 2010, 2:55PM
“This is not a Plymouth v South Hams battle. We will all be affected no matter which shortlisted site is approved. Our strength is in combining forces and putting our feelings of frustration to more positive use by opposing incineration as one mighty force - for the sake of our health, our children, our environment and our pockets. We need to educate the local councils and put pressure on them to follow the example of the many highly populated cities in the world who are well on their way to cleanly and economically meeting their zero waste pledges - and all without a sniff of an incinerator! Sorry but incineration appears to be a quick, lazy, costly fix, and incredibly irresponsible if the advice of a world renowned expert in waste management is to be ignored. Anyone involved in making the irreversible decision of approving an incinerator anywhere in this area should dig deep into their conscience and be prepared to accept a personal responsibility for each and every element of damage it causes to lives, the environment and the economy. Throwing public money at this hot potato to make it someone else¿s problem rather than structuring a very simple clean and much cheaper regime is not intelligent and is not progress.”
by Frankie Dolan, Ivybridge
Friday, February 05 2010, 11:06AM
“Hee hee, there's the Viridor line again, this time from 'Fiona' of Ivybridge. 'Bring it on!' Funny that the person who keeps saying this line changes their name each time. You know Viridor you really are going to have to try a little harder to disguise yourself.”
by Mick, Barbican
Friday, February 05 2010, 3:05AM
“Human quote- "The powers that be should be looking at anaerobic digesters"
Are they the latest Dr Who monster?”
by Carole, Lee Mill Resident
Thursday, February 04 2010, 11:23PM
“As a resident of Lee Mill I feel I have to inform everyone that contrary to popular belief we are not going to get free hot water or reduced electricity bills because Viridor have already decided this would be too costly for them, neither are they going to give us a new road, as they and the highways agency say we can cope with another 150 heavy lorries charging through the village on a daily basis! I wouldn't be surprised if there isn't more traffic on Western Road now than there was in the 60's when they decided to build the A38. I'm not a NIMBY if we have to have an incinerator carry on, but they have to improve the access to the site, the village struggles to cope with the 7000 vehicles that use the road on a daily basis at the moment. Let's face it, If they don't improve the exit from the A38 for this project they never will, and if you travel between Plymouth and Ivybridge any evening between 4 and 6 you know it doesn't take much to make the A38 resemble the biggest car park in Devon at the moment.”
by B. Green, Plymouth
Thursday, February 04 2010, 11:18PM
“If you have any respect for your health, your environment, your children, and their children then study all the facts about incineration. Then you wouldn't wish for an incinerator anywhere in a thousand miles of your home.”