Ivybridge urged to fight incinerator plans
IVYBRIDGE residents are being urged to fight to stop an incinerator being built on their doorstep.
Labour politician Luke Pollard urged a packed public meeting to unite against plans by waste company Viridor to build Plymouth’s proposed incinerator at New England Quarry near Lee Mill.
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And a leading councillor called on more than 200 people crammed into an Ivybridge community hall to protest against excess packaging by dumping the wrappings from their shopping in supermarket car parks.
Dozens of people were turned away from a crowded meeting called to protest against Viridor’s plans to build an incinerator and landfill facility. The company is one of three on the shortlist to build a £100million “energy from waste” (EfW) plant to handle domestic rubbish from Plymouth, Torbay and South Devon.
Viridor has said it will go ahead with the facility at New England Quarry even if it is not chosen by the South West Devon Waste Partnership.
The company is preparing a planning application, which it hopes to submit to Devon County Council by the end of this month or early in December.
“We can stop this incinerator,” Mr Pollard, the Labour Party candidate for South West Devon in the next General Election, said.
“After seeing people queuing in the rain to get into this meeting, we can definitely do that. If they want to build an incinerator there they are going to have a fight on their hands. Viridor has to work out whether that is worthwhile.
“The authorities have known about this incinerator for years and they haven’t said anything about it on the doorstep. Do something about it. We’ve got to stop this incinerator.”
Roger Croad, Devon County Council Cabinet member and chairman of the South West Devon Waste Partnership, said supermarkets had to be forced to cut back on excess packaging. Mr Croad said he would lead the way in protesting against excess packaging, which is adding to the waste mountain.
“I’ll be delighted to go to Tesco and leave the packaging in their car park,” Mr Croad said.
“It’s very important that they get the message.
“We need to reduce waste in the first place. We’re producing far too much rubbish.”
Angry speakers at the public meeting accused Viridor and councils of not keeping the public sufficiently informed about incinerator plans. Frankie Dolan, who helped to organise the meeting, warned that dependence on an incinerator would undermine recycling efforts and hit house prices. She claimed that some house sales had already fallen through because of the New England Quarry plan.
Ms Dolan accused Viridor of “dishonesty” by referring in its literature to an energy from waste plant and not an incinerator.
Janet Chapman from Yealmpton said New England Quarry was in a beautiful wooded valley full of wildlife.
“We already have Langage power station and we don’t need another blot on our landscape,” she said.
Mr Pollard told an audience that appeared to be united against the incinerator: “This community is proud. We don’t want to take our waste off to another part of the country – and nor do we want to ship other people’s waste into our area.
“We have to make our voices heard.
Richard Jenkins, Viridor regional operations manager, admitted that the planning application included landfill in the quarry for waste not suitable for burning.
He said that about 12,000 tonnes of toxic fly ash would be taken to a licensed site at Cheltenham, and would not be dumped in the quarry.
36 Comments
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by Vikki Wilde, Ivybridge (& Up North)
Friday, December 11 2009, 12:06PM
“Cricky People, talk about turning on yourselves! This does not seem like much of a debate more like playground tatter. Sounds as if a civil war is going to start.
First, the first I knew of the incinerator was a few weeks ago so i have not managed to do much research but there seems to be many different sources of conflicting information on here. What is true?
Second, I was unable to attend the meeting, as rightly stated, people were being turned away.
Thirdly, I was against the incinerator, but now I am on the fence.
Fourthly, I am from up north and paid a silly amount of money for my house down here - reason for my move was the beautiful countryside and sunshine (lol). Is this correct that the incinerator is reducing housing prices as I would like some return on my property!
I wouldn't want this on my door step but did anyone see the power plant when they first started? I work up langage and you couldn't even see across the indistrial estate. Will this new incinertator produce smoke like this?
Finally, would there be much of a problem if we went for wind power? One village purchased a wind turbine for £2 million and this powers the whole village FOR FREE. It also produces more power which they sell on and this PAYS FOR THEIR MORTGAGES - sounds good to me.
P.S I am not +55, I am >30 years of age.”
by John Allen, South Hams
Thursday, December 03 2009, 1:20AM
“There is a point missed here by most. Ivybridge would not be anything other than a hamlet if it wasn't for its original and continuing historical heritage. As a town that formed for and around the paper mill - which still dominates views from the south - it appears churlish to make out that there is no place for an industrial plant in or near the town. With out the infrastructure built by and for the paper mill, there would have been no town to which the 80s commuter sprawl could have latched on to. Cherish your heritage, and embrace a new waste mill that your grandchildren will look proudly and affectionately on as a lasting legacy of your foresight to prevent Chelson Meadow extending this far east.”
by Stix, Ivybridge
Wednesday, November 25 2009, 8:17PM
“Gaffer, thats a great observation, lets all move to that Jewel in the Crown of Cornwall...yep, you guessed it folks....Saltash. It's got everything....er no shops, er no jobs but it does have a couple of fantastic looking bridges and weird, pointy headed people. Yep, I think I'll buy a couple of houses for the price of my one in Ivybridge.”
by The Gaffer, Saltash
Tuesday, November 24 2009, 4:48PM
“Why all the fuss?.
Ivybridge is already a great dump!.”
by Frankie Dolan, Ivybridge
Tuesday, November 24 2009, 12:03AM
“Rather a lot of people with different names posting the same 'bring it on line', throwing abusive comments across from one area of Devon to another. Hmmmm...
.
And is that Sarah from Ivybridge also the Sarah from Lee Mill that posted the highly suspicious comment against the last incinerator article I wonder?
Mr Incinerator, we know who you are and your games do not fool anyone. You think you can divide an conquer us? Think again. I love Devon. I love Plymouth. I love South Hams. I love Torbay. We are all happy to dispose of our own waste, not dump it on our neighbours, and we do not need your stinking energy from waste facility thank-you very much, so kindly quit your childish antics and let us have a proper debate about this serious issue.
Honesty and transparency. 7,000 leaflets. Please, stop treating us like idiots.”
by Snooty, Fox Tor
Monday, November 23 2009, 11:48PM
“Just a note for The Ivybridge Whingers Association.
The Dockyard is out. Already full of nucleur waste.
You appear to accept that there is a great need for this incinerator. But then of course "anywhere but in our backyard".
Occasionally I wander around this proposed site and I think it is just perfect. Bring it on.”
by Chris, Your back yard or mine, it makes no difference
Monday, November 23 2009, 10:28PM
“We may read that regulations have greatly reduced the emissions of dioxins from the stacks of municipal incinerators; but accidents and bad practices will always occur, whether they get reported or covered-up, and there have been many incidents of dioxin pollution resulting from industrial emissions and accidents. It is also true that there are dioxins in cigarette smoke, and are we not justly progressing in leaps and bounds to protect ourselves and our children from that source of toxins? Dioxins bioaccumulate primarily in fatty tissues i.e. they build up over time, so even small exposures may eventually reach dangerous levels. Dioxins can result in cancer but the non-cancer effects (reproduction and sexual development, immune system, abnormal tooth enamel, thyroid disorders, endometriosis and diabetes) may pose an even greater threat to human health. Dioxins also cause a wide variety of toxic effects in animals. Dioxins accumulate in food chains in a fashion similar to other chlorinated compounds. This means that even small concentrations in contaminated water can be concentrated up a food chain to dangerous levels due to the long biological half life and low water solubility of dioxins. Dioxins and other persistent organic pollutants are subject to the Stockholm Convention. The treaty obliges signatories to take measures to eliminate where possible, and minimize where not possible to eliminate, all sources of dioxin.
Therefore, why are we even thinking about producing and exposing ourselves to these dreadful chemicals in whatever percentage terms that are mooted? The seniors amongst us might never suffer directly, but would we inflict such pain and misery on our future citizens? As for cheap electricity - dream on. And jobs? Just like the Langage Power Station, dream on again.”
by edna, ivybridge
Monday, November 23 2009, 9:50PM
“add another 150+ stinking dustcarts to our already dangerous A38 a day where crashes are a daily occurance, not so smart really ! And all you people on here thinking that Lee Mill is the perfect place for this dirty great eyesore, is that because you dont want it on your doorsteps either ? I think it needs to go to an industrial estate, or better still, like someone else suggested... the Dockyard, at least then we can ship it awat if needs be !”
by Rick O'Shay, zog
Monday, November 23 2009, 6:57PM
“The New England site is by far the most sensible site out of those proposed, it is a disused quarry, has superb road access, and is the most centrally located.
It's obvious that pressure groups will spring up to defend their patch, but the folks in the S.hams are not helped by the sight of Mr Streeter making a bit of an arze of himself by suggesting Devonport.
Difficult as it is, New England is the best site.”
by rubydog, south hams
Monday, November 23 2009, 6:31PM
“That's a good idea James, we could limit how many trees in the ancient woodland they cut down for the access road and also restrict the toxic run off into the Yealm so that it kills only the fish at first then the rest of the ecosystem in the yealm estuary”