Demonstration against Kent County Council's decision to allow
planning permission for the incinerator
Copyright
Kent Messenger
December 1998
The proposal was announced to build a waste to energy incinerator
to dispose of 500,00 tonnes of domestic and commercial waste, instead
of landfilling it. The government impose high costs of landfilling
in an attempt for councils to find alternative ways of reducing and
disposing of waste.
Some councils launch imaginative recycling schemes.
Aim Klean
was formed from the residents and several people who had knowledge
came aboard and helped us to form a campaign to avoid the scheme to
take place.
Those who have
raised strong objection to the scheme included
*
nearly 3,000 objections
by members of the public
* Environmental bodies and local water
supplier who have showed concern over the emissions and possible contamination
of ground water as the site is directly over the aquifer which supplies
40% of Maidstone's public water supply
* Maidstone Borough Council and Tonbridge
& Malling Borough Council
* locally elected councillors who on
behalf of the residents are concerned that the planning has been steamrollered
over a site that was due to be reinstated to nature in a protected
green belt area
* Member of Parliament Rt Hon Miss Ann
Widdecombe’s call for the application to be called in by the
Secretary of State and a Public Inquiry held. "The KCC are clearly
in favour of the application and are not a suitable authority to give
an impartial and fair judgement under these circumstances." Her
issues are that lorry movements are prohibited during peak hours in
the already busy roadways, and that the site which has been used as
a quarry should be reinstated as a protected green site.
November 1999
The KCC approved the planning application
December 1999
The waste plan was referred to the Secretary of State for the Environment,
Transport and the Regions as it was a departure from their own waste
plan. In less than two working weeks a decision was take by them not
to refuse it
March 2000
The fight continued as Maidstone Borough Council took the Government
to High Court. It seeked permission from the judge for a Judicial
Review to take place, even though the Secretary of State refused to.
They however lost and it seems as if the incinerator will be built.
We are in the hands of the Environment Agency to make sure that it
will not contravene stringent emission controls set by the EU.
May 2000
The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) in USA have released draft
of a report revealing new evidence of cancer risks from dioxin that
are emitted from incinerators. The agency began in-depth studies in1991
and since then, with epidemiological studies from Europe and USA has
a greater understanding of the exposure risk.
Apart from the
emissions from the chimney - the ash residue also creates a threat.
In Newcastle more than 2,000 tonnes of poison ash have been spread
on footpaths and allotments, similarly in Greenwich London and Essex.
The latest report
highlights the fears of long term effects to health, especially in
the light of France and Belgian food industry. It is time the government
rethought their waste strategy and end the plan to built 160 further
incinerators in the UK.
DECEMBER 2000
After a decision
by the KCC to reject plans of the Ridham Dock waste incinerator, on
grounds that it would cause unacceptable air pollution on Tuesday
December 12th 2000, Mrs Sarah Hohler, chairperson of strategic committee
said "The leaders advice from the environment agency was that
even on the most pessimistic forecast, they think that probably, probably
would not be any cause of concern on the air quality. I don’t
think that probably is good enough for member to base a decision on."
In light of this and the fact that Allington (Maidstone) site would
be larger, up to 500,000 tons per year, and in a populated area –
why were these precautionary principals not applied here??.
Is it that there
are no proper alternative arrangements for dealing with waste in the
next 20 years other than landfill.
The members of KCC do not live in the Maidstone area so they think
they would not be affected by the pollution.
DECEMBER 2001
The site has been taken over by WGB who has the permission to build
the structure but as yet still await licences to operate it from the
Environment Agency.
FEBRUARY 2002
The application has been submitted to the Environment Agency for licence
to run the incinerator for the next 20 years. A copy of the application
can be seen at Allington and Maidstone Public Libraries. This could
be the last time to make comment on the application. Letters should
be sent to: Allington Waste Management Facility Consultation, PO Box
291, West Malling, ME19 5WP or send e-mails to kent.enquiries@environment-agency.go.uk
WE STRONGLY URGE YOU TO MAKE REPRESENTATION NOW BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.
August 29th
2003 - The final sad news that permission has been granted to
build and operate the incinerator which could be up and running by
2006
--------------------------------
In the end, it
can be seen as a case of the people versus big business interests
- who have the financial clout and influence to buy their way into
money-making ventures that are not always in the best interest of
people and the environment.
We
should remember that, it is us who want, shrink wrapped food in coloured
packaging, to read papers and magazines, dress in the latest fashions,
all which have a short life and soon become rubbish which all has
to be dealt with.
