In a fabulous development for all concerned with fighting against incinerators, the news that Caroline Spelman, the Environment Secretary has refused to sanction £169m of public money for an incinerator scheme in Norfolk due to massive local opposition is a great boost.

In a case which mirrors our local fights, the plant at Kings Lynn received massive local opposition, had been rejected by the local councils and the objectors groups had the backing of the local MP’s (sounds familiar???).

The decision now puts other incinerator projects under a big question mark as it appears that the Government are now conscious of local opposition and of how deeply residents feel about these burners.

To read the full story as it was originally published follow this link to the Independent.

In an astonishing turn of events, despite the overwhelming evidence at the recent Northwich public inquiry which clearly demonstrated that there is sufficient burning capacity in Cheshire already built and planned to handle the entire North West’s waste, a new proposal has been announced to build yet another incinerator, this time on Deeside.

Quite astonishingly, this new plant is planned for Deeside Industrial Park and if given the go ahead would be upwind of us here in Cheshire so we would suffer from its output once again.

It beggars belief that so many of these plants are being proposed, and many even given planning permission, turning this part of the UK into a dustbin for the country’s rubbish. This, and all the other plants, only make financial sense when there are Renewable Obligation Certificates to help pay for it all as without the subsidies from these then there is no credible argument for them. Add to this the downward trend of residual waste in the UK and the upward trend of recycling and you have to ask the question, what exactly is it these pyromaniacs want to burn? Answers on a postcard please…..

Covanta have today formally given up in their quest to build an incinerator outside Merthyr Tydfil. They cite the local authority’s unwillingness to look on it as a national facility for Wales as the main reason although at the same time as they withdraw from that planning process they have applied to have their permit changed for the Ince Marshes incinerator so it can take in an extra 180,000 tonnes of material a year.

In all this Covanta appear to be working as hard as they can to become the biggest burner of residual waste in not only the country but also the world, thereby shackling the generations of tomorrow to a 19th century solution that does not solve the waste problem but simply turns it into an invisible and deadly cocktail of chemicals.

The first ruling of the Infrastructure Planning Committee, set up to rubber stamp large infrastructure projects irrespective of the wishes of local people has recently announced its decision to allow a proposal by Covanta to build a 585,000 tonne a year incinerator at Rookery Pit in Bedfordshire.

Despite the best efforts of the local community the proposal was given the green light, overruling the massive opposition it had encountered locally and flying in the fact of recent studies which show that residual waste in this country is falling not rising. Quite how Covanta plan to fuel this massive plant is still open to speculation, much as it is with the Middlewich proposal, but it brought forward nonetheless the standard backslapping from Malcolm Chilton who was quoted as saying “While every major capital project is likely to have some level of opposition, the community at large should take comfort from the fact that all the issues raised have been taken seriously and independently examined in the most thorough way possible.” In other words we’ve now got a green light to dump on your community so shut up.

This is not the end of the matter though as it is still open to legal challenge as it must be ratified by Parliament and in particular by Eric Pickles who has to ensure that it doesn’t contravene European Law.

CHAIN for one hope that this isn’t the end of the matter.

The Middlewich Public Inquiry closed on Friday 7th October after hearing closing speeches from the main parties involved.  Brian Cartwright, Chairman of CHAIN gave an eloquent closing statement which you can read here, in which he outlines the case against building an incinerator in Middlewich.  All we can do now is wait for the Inspector’s report and see whether we have done enough to prevent this monstrosity being built in the town.

A very good question, and one we’re often asked by people who have seen the plans and the lovely artists impressions of the plant that TATA want to build on the edge of town.  After all, on the plans and the artist impressions you could be forgiven for thinking that they would hardly be noticeable.

In an attempt to give some scale and perspective to this answer CHAIN have created the first mobile chimney in the UK and let this chimney fly.  Sounds crazy?  Maybe but we needed a way of showing everyone just how high the proposed structure would be.

So with a merry band of volunteers and a fair wind (and lovely sunny weather!) we set off last week to fly our tethered balloon from as near to the proposed site as we could.  The results you can see for yourself on this page.  The balloon flew really well and was visible from miles around; so much so that we attracted enquiries from a long way out of Northwich as well as in the town itself.

The balloon is tethered with a cable which is exactly the same length as the proposed chimney would be high, so we can see with a degree of accuracy exactly what could be seen from different locations around the town.  Take note particularly of the one’s from the car dealers on London Road, the Tesco’s car park and the one from Northwich Vics. Clearly this is a lot higher than most people perceive it to be and despite the best reassurances from TATA a lot higher than any artist impression has ever truly shown.

The blimp will be flying again soon so watch out for it where you are and if you spot it or take a photo then don’t forget to let us know and send us your pictures!

Chimney Height from Northwich Vics Car Park

Chimney height from London Road

The Blimp

Up she goes!

Flying high!

Looking East from Tesco's car park

CHAIN have today issued a Press Release about the hidden health dangers of allowing TATA to build an incinerator in Northwich. Click here to read the press release.

News is emerging that Lanarkshire Council in Scotland have awarded their long term 25 year waste contract to Viridor but it is based on them being able to build the controversial Dovesdale Farm incinerator.  The plan is currently under judicial review and is not going to be decided until October however the council have decided to go ahead and award the contract anyway.  The fact that Viridor may not be able to process the waste, at a plant that may yet be refused planning permission, doesn’t seem to have got in the way of the contract decision.

In a stunning show of Nimbyism, the Council go on to state that “No incineration of South Lanarkshire Council material will take place in South Lanarkshire – it will be treated in Runcorn”.

We’re sure that the poor beleaguered residents of Weston Point and Runcorn will sleep better now that they know that they will be burning waste from Scotland.

Whatever happened to the proximity principle?  Whatever happend to the basic planning rules that dictated that waste should be treated as close to the source as possible?  How can it possibly be in anyone’s interest, apart from the incinerator companies, to transport waste over 200 miles just to burn it? It’s a poor decision that will leave a bitter taste in the mouth of Runcorn residents.

The time will soon be with us when CHAIN will have the opportunity to cross examine TATA/EON as they bid to get their planning application for the Lostock incinerator past the Planning Inspector at the Northwich Planning Inquiry.  Normally these Inquiries can be dull affairs with a huge amount of time spent on technical details but this time CHAIN would like your help to enliven the proceedings.

We’re looking for some great questions to ask TATA/EON about their proposal, details of which you can find here.  If you read their website please take a lot of what they say with a huge pinch of salt, as it is nicely dressed to support their case.

For example if you read the bit about ‘The Need’ you may think that it is essential that they get this plant or the whole firm could be in trouble.  If you read between the lines though you will see that their ‘need’ is all about reducing costs with absolutely no guarantee that this would retain jobs at the Lostock site.  In fact if they got planing permission there would be nothing stopping them closing the Lostock operation entirely and selling the plant to EON to use for energy generation.  So their ‘need’ has nothing to do with sustainable business or sustainable energy generation and everything to do with sustaining profits.

And once again this has nothing to do with the local community or the impact this plant would have on them.  The final bit about ‘supporting the pensions of 600 former employees’ is nothing short of sickening.   Tata Group turned over $67.4 billion in 2009/10 and made $1.74 billion profit.  I somehow doubt that the inability to get planning permission for this plant will harm the 600 local pensioners chance of getting their pensions…..

So come on, let us have those questions.  Send your emails to admin@anti-incinerator.org.uk and we’ll make sure that the very best questions are placed at the heart of our defence of the local community.

Knutsford residents are set to receive a new Silver recycling bin which will be used to collect all dry recyclable materials including a wide range of plastics.  The bins are due to be rolled out from September 12th 2011 and will bring Knutsford into line with other areas in Cheshire East Council.

As Cheshire East achieved a recycling rate of just under 50% in 2009/10 it is hoped that the introduction of this new bin will mean that recycling rates can rise even further throughout the County.  With the National average recycling rate being around 40% it means that the North West can once again become a trail blazer for the rest of the UK.

Whilst these great recycling rates and improved recycling services are good news in their own right, it’s even better news for those campaigning against the proposed Covanta incinerator in Middlewich, as it once again underlines the basic flaw in the plan which is that there will never be sufficient material to burn to make the plant worthwhile.  The more the people of Cheshire recycle the less material that can end up in an incinerator.