Keith applies himself to Coventry campaign

Hard working anti-incineration campaigner Keith Kondakor may have even less time on his hands if he is appointed as the new Director of Coventry’s waste project. His application has attracted local media attention, as the Evening Telegraph publishes the following story, under the twin headlines of PROTEST: Friends of the Earth campaigner says it’s the only way to oppose incineration plan and Burning ambition for top council job By Mary Griffin, Environmental reporter

AN ANTI-INCINERATOR campaigner has applied for a top council job in protest against plans for a new burner for Coventry. Friends of the Earth’s Keith Kondakor is firmly against burning rubbish, but has applied for the £83,000 director’s job leading Project Transform, Coventry’s future strategy to deal with waste that can’t be recycled. Mr Kondakor has even told the council he’ll do the job for £44,000 less than its salary.

The campaigner says he applied for the job because the council is currently bidding for funding for a new incinerator but the public won’t be consulted for at least another three years. He said:

As a member of the public I will have to wait years before I can have a say at the planning meeting. This will be too late as they will have wasted £4 million by that point on the bidding process. We need to talk now about what is really needed for processing waste in the region. Applying to manage the project seems the only option available to discuss it at the top level.

Friends of the Earth oppose incineration, claiming it burns valuable resources and limits recycling. The incinerator in London Road, Coventry, is 32 years’ old and is due to be replaced over the next 15 years. Warwickshire County Council has teamed up with Coventry City Council and Solihull Borough Council, which run the current plant, to form Project Transform. The initial proposal is for a new, bigger incineration plant but the city council says it is investigating other options and won’t make a final decision for at least three years, when the public will be consulted.

Mr Kondakor is waiting to hear whether he has an interview for the job. When asked if his application would be taken seriously, a city council spokesman said: “We would not comment on any individual’s job application.”

UKWIN would like to wish Keith all the best in securing his interview! We understand that shortlisting will not now begin until September to allow Coventry City Council officers to enjoy their summer holiday…