St Budeaux joins incinerator fight
RESIDENTS in St Budeaux have vowed to fight controversial plans for a waste incinerator on Devonport Dockyard land.
More than 100 people made their voices heard at a public meeting last night organised by the campaign group Incineration is Wrong (IIW).
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CONCERN: Incineration is Wrong committee members (above), including Stuart Billinghurst (right) and members of the public (below) at the meeting
Set up to oppose the plans just two weeks ago, they are angry about MVV Umwelt's proposal to build an energy from waste (EfW) plant on a plot in Devonport's North Yard, which borders St Budeaux, Weston Mill and Barne Barton.
The German firm is also eyeing land at Ernesettle, where there has been fierce opposition from pressure group STIFLE, which boasts 120 members.
It is competing with Viridor in its bid to the South West Devon Waste Partnership (SWDWP), which is commissioning an EfW to handle domestic rubbish for Plymouth, Torbay and South Devon. Viridor wants to build a £100million plant at New England Quarry, near Lee Mill, but has also seen a fierce backlash from locals.
Plymouth's waste is currently going into landfill in Cornwall following the closure of Chelson Meadow in April 2008 – so a new home is needed.
But the quartet behind IIW spent the week covering the St Budeaux area in more than 1,500 flyers to rally support.
Chairman Stuart Billinghurst said he had concerns over the long-term health implications and the visual impact the EfW plant would have on the area.
The building would be 80 metres tall – double the height of Smeaton's Tower – and cover land twice the size of Plymouth Argyle's Home Park stadium, he said.
Mr Billinghurst said: "We understand that Plymouth needs to deal with waste – it's a big problem and it does need a solution – but the whole concept of taking our waste and setting light to it is not the right answer.
"There is a lot of hard scientific evidence out there that says, 'We don't really know what we're doing with regards to long-term effects on people'.
"Not knowing the answer doesn't mean it is safe and I don't see why we have to be one of the test beds."
Around 110 people packed into St Budeaux Community Centre, including ward councillors George Wheeler, Sally Bowie and Gloria Bragg and a representative from the SWDWP.
More than half said they were not even aware of the incinerator proposals until IIW's leaflet-drop, despite MVV Umwelt showing off its plans at a 'roadshow' at Weston Mill Primary School last week.
Mr Billingurst added: "We believe that as a community we should have the information to make an informed decision on this proposal.
"There are homes across two counties nearby, 360 degrees around the land.
"When the mist comes in anything that comes out of this plant is going to sit in this mist, then drop onto those houses and into the sea.
"We need to tell people that we don't want this – this is the wrong solution.
"We now need to follow through from here and act. To fight this we need people power."
MVV managing director Paul Carey has promised that "no-one would even know we were operating" in terms of noise or smell.
But fellow IIW committee member Lynne Hayden emphasised that the group was opposed to any EfW plant – whether in Devonport Dockyard, Lee Mill or Ernesettle.
They also have concerns over the increase in lorries on local roads – forecast at around 120 a day – while the Woodland Trust has been asked to carry out a survey of the proposed plot amid fears over potential owl and bat populations.
Visit the IIW website at www.iiw.org.uk or give views your views on the proposals at www.mvvuk.co.uk
40 Comments
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by nick, Devonport
Saturday, February 27 2010, 8:31PM
“Oh Dear the four little GREEN SHOOTS of the Green Party can't stand the heat, perhaps being honest and campaign on the Green party manifesto they will be happy, burn baby burn”
by Helen, St. Budeaux
Friday, February 26 2010, 12:50PM
“Well said "power to the people". Succinctly put!”
by Shirley, Weston Mill
Thursday, February 25 2010, 6:45PM
“Well said 'Power to the People' St Budeaux, couldnt have put it better..”
by Nick, Plymouth
Wednesday, February 24 2010, 10:24PM
“so is it Green power to the people that has taken such offence at the comments made
stiffle is a great name for this as this is what they want to do with anybody that does not share there green views everybody is wrong apart from them power to the people is a joke if you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen as some comments have said your green party and your agenda is political a half page tirade does not help power to the people one bit”
by power to the people, st budeaux
Wednesday, February 24 2010, 5:09PM
“Nick, Plymouth ¿ read the report properly. To quote ¿Lynne Hayden emphasised that the group was opposed to any EfW plant ¿ whether in Devonport Dockyard, Lee Mill or Ernesettle.¿
Susan, Millfields - The ¿committee¿ made it quite clear that they are just local residents who found out about the ¿proposed¿ site for the incinerator & joined together to raise awareness to what was quite obviously unknown to the majority of the people, businesses & schools that would be affected. It is not scaremongering ¿ do some research of your own. It was stated at the meeting that these figures etc were evidence from scientists & health organisations & that was reiterated on the presentation with details of by whom & when the evidence was noted. It was made quite clear that the ¿committee¿ were NOT experts but passing on the details as it was known. SWDWP clearly state on their website that the chimney stack would be 80metres high and the site 3-4 hectares.
Paul, Devonport ¿ If you attended the meeting then you would know where the proposed site is as it was quite clearly shown on a map & explained by Stuart. So, its ok to put more in this area is it just because there are bad things there already. It won¿t just affect the immediate vicinity - there are transport issues too.
Peter, Ernesettle & Kathryn, St Budeaux ¿ No one on the committee claimed to be public speakers or experts ¿ just local residents. Ask the question ¿ how many people were aware of this before they had the leaflet through the door last week & of those few who did know how many did anything about it raise awareness? Somebody had to!
Benny ¿ does the incinerator at Derriford have 120 lorries in and out all day? There many more issues to this than the emissions.
Janet, Devonport ¿ no one has said it WILL be this site but the point is that if no one knew it was even a proposal how could they stand up & fight against it. MVV Umwelt WANT to hear people¿s concerns. If Lee Mill goes ahead that does not guarantee no other sites will be used. How could there be a satisfactory public enquiry when until last week most of the local people didn¿t even know anything about the site?
Political parties had nothing to do with it ¿ it was four people, not professional speakers or campaigners, who had found out about it and were doing the best they could and do not deserve some of the comments on here slating them.
Too many complain but look to others to do the hard work and then criticise them for doing so. Put your energy into research & supporting what is not just a St Budeaux area issue but a Plymouth and beyond problem. This is not about political parties it¿s about what is right for local people & pulling together. At least there others who have common sense on this site. We in this country have the benefit of being able to campaign & speak up ¿ there are many countries that don¿t have that privilege. If you feel strongly about the issue of incineration & more importantly all the proposed sites then don¿t just sit there moaning about those that are making their voices heard, research it & YOU DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT BEFORE ITS TOO LATE!”