HOW TO OBJECT TO THE BATTLEFIELD INCINERATOR

Veolia's incinerator at Chineham, Hampshire, viewed from nearby fields.




















Veolia's planning application for a 90,000-ton incinerator at Battlefield is now under consideration by Shropshire Council's planning department.

The registration number is: MS2009/0125/SY and can be viewed at: http://planning.shropshire.gov.uk/PlanAppDisp.asp?RecNum=59315

The hearing, which will be before the new Unitary Authority's Planning Committee, is not expected for several months.

The consultation period officially ends 30 April but you can still object to the proposal, if you have not already done so.

If you feel that you need more information, you can write a very short note or card with your brief reason for objecting and reserve the right to add more details later on. The earlier you write, the better.

Objections should be in writing and delivered by letter or email to:

Mr Malcolm Bell, Head of Planning and Development Control, Shropshire Council, Shirehall, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, SY2 6ND.

http://www.shropshire.gov.uk/index.nsf/contact?opennavigator&id=planning.921AC90983D3B05880256D9E0031E5D7

REMEMBER TO INCLUDE THE REGISTRATION NUMBER.

If you want to email an objection to us, we will deliver it for you. Just make sure it has your name and full home address on it: safe_waste_shropshire@yahoo.com.

Here are some planning considerations which will be taken seriously by the committee when considering this application.

You can use any or all of these points or, of course, use your own!

Your fears about pollution and dangers to health:
Incineration does not remove waste, it converts it into another form (gas, particulates, ash) and these new forms are typically more hazardous. The fine particulate (less thanPM2.5) pollution, which is typical of incinerator emissions, is an important contributor to heart disease, lung cancer, and an assortment of other diseases, and causes a linear increase in mortality. Particulates from incinerators will be especially hazardous due to the toxic chemicals attached to them. Other pollutants emitted by incinerators include heavy metals and a large variety of organic chemicals. These substances include known carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, and substances that can attach to genes, alter behaviour, damage the immune system and decrease intelligence.

Modern incinerators produce fly ash which is much more toxic than in the past, containing large quantities of dioxin-rich material for which there is no safe method of disposal, except vitrification, a method not being used in the UK.

The dangers posed by the disposal of 3,600 tonnes toxic fly ash and the need for transportation of huge quantitites (22,500 tonnes per year) of polluted bottom ash away from the Battlefield site.

The large carbon-footprint of an incinerator

The negative visual impact of a large plant next to the historic Battlefield site and which will also be clearly seen from the town and neighbouring residential areas

The flawed process leading up to the application - lack of Council scrutiny, the 'democracy deficit' in the processes leading up to the awarding of the contract and the poor level of consultation

Fears that incinerator emissions might affect people's health including yours and that of your family

The mismatch between actual falling waste figures, actual rising recyling figures and the claimed need for an incinerator

Concerns that the future costs of such a project could be ultimately borne by the council tax-payer as has happened in other areas such as Nottingham and South Wales when projected costs have fallen short of reality

The lack of consideration of cleaner, safer and cheaper alternatives to incineration such as MBT, anaeorobic digestion and plasma-gasification.

The decision to depart from the Shrewsbury Waste Local Plan which precludes 'mass burn incineration' at the Battlefield site

The implications of the transport of hazardous waste from the incinerator near to residential homes and the increased number of lorries visiting the plant at a time when Peak Oil is nearing or has already been reached.

The proximity of an incinerator to the new food enterprise park

The increase in noise levels and distasteful odour

Non-compliance with the waste hierarchy: The proposal does not comply with the waste hierarchy, in that waste incineration should not be used in preference to waste reduction, reuse, recycling and composting (including anaerobic digestion).

Help the Campaign

Help us raise awareness - start spreading the word - tell all your friends, family, work colleagues and neighbours.

Lobby all candidates for the new Shropshire Council. Whatever they say, they are allowed to give an indication of their views on incineration and it is important that they understand the need to inform themselves properly, take note of public opinion (strongly against incinerators) and take the appropriate action to stop this proposal.

Please take action TODAY to have your objection considered for this planning application!

Register your e-mail address and/or address with us for further updates and keep on returning for updates to http://www.safewasteshropshire.co.uk/

Ways to help stop the Battlefield Incinerator:
Write to your local councillor/s
Distribute leaflets
Donate money to the campaign
Write to the local press

HOW BIG WOULD THE BATTLEFIELD INCINERATOR BE?

'A giant landfill in the sky' - Chineham incinerator picture by Safe Waste in Shropshire

You can get an idea of the huge size of the proposed 90,000 ton Battlefield incinerator with its 80 metre (200 feet) high chimney by looking at this picture of Veolia's incinerator in Chineham, Hampshire. It is the same size and of a similar style to the proposed Battlefield incinerator.

Paperwork hitch delays £12m Staffs incinerator

From the Birmingham Post on 5 August:

"The error was unearthed after a member of the public complained to the council about the way the decision to build the incinerator was written

Plans for a £120 million rubbish incinerator in Staffordshire are being sent back to council planners over legal fears.

The incinerator earmarked for Four Ashes Industrial Estate, near Cannock, will go back before Staffordshire County Council's planning committee after it emerged that a "paperwork hitch" could leave it open to a legal challenge.

The council has admitted "technical details" were not included in the original planning application and the plan now needs to be reconsidered by the new planning committee so the error can be corrected. But the project, approved back in November, is still expected to go ahead as planned.

The council's project director Ian Benson said: "The planning application will be returning to the planning committee in the autumn due to a paperwork hitch. The planning committee approved the scheme at Four Ashes last November.

"The committee will revisit the paperwork to ensure technical details are included in the published decision. These were not included in the original decision and did not comply with recent judgements which meant the plan could have been vulnerable to a legal challenge."

It is believed the error was unearthed after a member of the public complained to the council about the way the decision to build the incinerator was written.

The Four Ashes Incinerator will handle an expected 300,000 tonnes of waste a year from Staffordshire and neighbouring authorities and is aimed at reducing the amount of rubbish going to landfill.

It is also predicted to generate enough power for over 25,000 homes and deliver surplus hot water to local industrial and commercial users.

But Friends of the Earth campaigners say the county could struggle to fulfill 30-year obligations as recycling will limit the amount of waste going to the burner.

PROBLEMS FOR VEOLIA'S WASTE MANAGEMENT SITES IN BRIGHTON

Brighton waste centre wrecked by fire
Monday 13th July 2009

A waste recycling centre remains closed today after fire engulfed the building. The centre in Wilson Avenue, Brighton, was wrecked after it caught light on Saturday evening. An investigation has been launched to investigate the cause but Sussex Police last night said there were no signs it had been caused by arsonists. Smoke from the site, which is run by Veolia on behalf of Brighton and Hove City Council, could be seen from miles away as the fire took hold. A council spokesman said:

“We would ask people to be patient while we investigate what has happened. “If people need to urgently use the recycling facility we would ask them to use the one in Old Shoreham Road instead.”

It is not yet known how long the centre will have to remain closed. Council officials are expected to visit the site to assess the damage again today. East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service received 20 999 calls when the fire started just before 6.30pm on Saturday, Crews from Preston Circus, Roedean and Hove were at the scene first and found the waste hall building well alight.

The blaze was out shortly before 10pm but firefighters stayed at the scene for the rest of the night and throughout Sunday morning to make sure the area was safe. A spokeswoman said:

“They needed to keep turning all the material over to make sure everything was properly out so there was no risk of the fire re-igniting.
“A large quantity of waste was destroyed and the building it was in was damaged. “We are investigating the cause of the fire as a matter of routine.”

Crews from Seaford, Uckfield, Newhaven and Lewes as well as two from West Sussex were brought in to provide cover. Lee Craig, who lives opposite the site, said:

“I noticed the smoke first and then when I went out to look I could see the building was well alight. “People were stopping their cars and getting out to take a look. “The smoke was really thick. “The police and firefighters closed off both ends of the road to stop any traffic going through but there were still a lot of people around watching. “I went to take another look on Sunday morning and you can see how badly damaged the building is. I don't think it will be opening for a while yet. “There were also bits and pieces of debris from the fire scattered about in the fields.”

It is the second time there has been a fire at the site. In February 2006 the waste hall caught alight, causing hundreds of thousands of pounds of damage.

Chemical alert shuts Brighton tip
Friday 26th June 2009

Binmen had to be taken to hospital after a mystery chemical alert at Brighton’s new £10 million waste centre. The Hollingdean waste transfer centre was closed and the area around it was sealed off after three men became ill. Emergency crews immediately shut the site and tried to determine exactly what caused the scare. They yesterday ruled out any danger to the public from the site.

The trio of City Clean workers – one driver and two operatives – were taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital with breathing problems at around 1pm yesterday. It is believed that two of the men were discharged yesterday afternoon but the other was kept in for tests and monitoring.

The dump, near Hollingdean Road, is run by waste firm Veolia, which is under contract with Brighton and Hove City Council and East Sussex County Council.

Fire crews do not know what caused the breathing problems but confirmed that it was not due to a chemical leak. A deodoriser that is used to mask the smell of the rubbish was originally blamed but was later found to be non-hazardous. Veolia said the site would be open for business this morning and that the closure yesterday would not affect recycling collections.

But union officials last night spoke of their concern that the cause of the incident had still not been identified. Mark Turner, the branch secretary for GMB, which represents 300 City Clean workers, said:

“Until they have done tests on the individuals involved then no one knows what the actual reaction is but it is concerning.
“We are concerned that the chemical that caused it has not been identified.
“We want to get to the bottom of this as it does not just effect council staff but also Veolia staff that work there eight hours a day, six days a week.
“If there is a substance out there that is not good for the body then that is concerning.”

Officials confirmed that staff had reported symptoms of burning throats and shortness of breath to City Clean management on Wednesday but that nothing was done before staff came in for work yesterday. One staff member, who did not want to be named, said:

“They went to the manager when their throats were burning and they were short of breath but they went back in there the next day.
“They raised the issue with the management on Wednesday but they had not done anything about it and the staff were back in this morning.
“One of them collapsed in the manager’s office.”

The situation has been reported to the Health and Safety Executive The Hollingdean Road site employs 30 Veolia staff. Mr Turner estimated that around 100 to 150 City Clean staff work at the site dropping off waste from their collections. Hollingdean residents fiercely opposed plans to build the controversial dump, which became fully operational in September 2008.

The Dump the Dump group campaigned against the waste transfer and recycling centre, arguing that it would smell and affect nearby houses and Downs Infants School. A spokeswoman for Veolia said: ''The incident was attended by the emergency services concluding that the site could continue to operate as normal. “We will be conducting an internal investigation in line with normal procedures.'' Brighton and Hove City Council confirmed that bin collections would be unaffected by the temporary closure.

A spokesman said:
“The waste transfer station is run by Veolia Environmental Services on behalf of the council.
“Veolia will be investigating in line with their normal procedures, and the matter is being reported to the Health and Safety Executive.
“We can confirm that three of our staff working at the waste transfer station were taken to hospital earlier today after complaining of feeling unwell. We very much hope they get well soon.
“Emergency services have attended and declared the site safe to continue to operate as normal.”