Brent Friends of the Earth (FoE), MP Sarah Teather and 150 angry local residents attended a public meeting against Barnet’s proposed waste handling facility last Thursday December 11th at John Kelly Boys College. The meeting, organised by Bestway, sent a clear message to Barnet Council and developers to stop plans for an incinerator and waste facility next to Brent, that full information has not been disclosed raising environmental concerns, and that the consultation period is inadequate.
Brent FoE, who held an information stall, raised a number of questions at the meeting as regards sustainability of the plans overall as regards waste, transport, air pollution and carbon emissions.
Viv Stein, Brent FoE spokesperson said:
Alongside many residents, we are concerned about the proposed incinerator on Brent’s border. This clearly is an incinerator as it falls within the EU Waste Incineration Directive. Developers’ plans lack crucial detail on the type of technology and likely emissions, so we cannot assess the full environmental impact. We cannot let this application go through in outline without this information.
Incineration undermines recycling, contributes to climate change, and is not a sustainable way of dealing with waste. Toxic residues such as dioxins, produced by the burning process, are highly persistent chemicals that stay in the body. We are extremely concerned how these will be monitored and impact on people’s health.
Local Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East Sarah Teather said:
It was great to see so many local people attending this important public meeting. Residents are quite rightly furious at the plan to build a dump on their doorstep, and it is absolutely vital that they get a fair hearing from the Conservatives who run Barnet Council. There could be hundreds of extra lorries passing through residential areas in Dollis Hill every single week, not to mention the potential impact of pollution upon residents’ health and the environment.
Barnet Council should now delay the decision date to give more time for a proper assessment on the impact of their plans upon people in Brent. To press ahead regardless of such passionate opposition would be a gross insult to all those who turned out to defend our quality of life.
The extensive revised transport assessment for the development was delayed and only recently made available. Even Brent Council have not had sufficient time to consider it yet.
Brent residents, who have not been consulted on the plans, were urged to write to Barnet Council to complain and ask for more time. Responses to the planning application ref C17559/08 should be sent to BXCapplication@barnet.gov.uk by January 5th 2009.
For more information see www.brentfoe.com
1Royce Timms on Dec 23, 2008 at 1:48 am:
I would like to thank the Brent FOE and Sarah Teather for the work they are doing to stop this Incinerator with all its attendant problems. As a resident of 12 years in the
Cricklewood area I often wondered why Cricklewood remained so impoverished. I always felt that the problem was compounded by the fact that our town borders 3 boroughs, none of whom seem capable of collectively addressing the issues which contimnue to blight this part of London. I am so disgusted with Camden, Brent and Barnet that I would like to see the majority of Powers devolved to Central Goverment. We are so obviously over governed by arrogant, incompetent and often immoral local body politicians that we would be better served by a leaner form of political administration. This current issue only hardens my feelings about this. I hope and pray that the residents movements swell to 1000s rather than 100s and that we can form a Protest group of Individuals who are prepared to take up a campaign of Direct Action, involving physically preventing the developers by the tried and true methods of Greenpeace etc. Wishing everyone a Happy Christmas.
2Felix Staratschek on Dec 30, 2008 at 1:48 am:
Backgroundinformation about incineration and alternatives, like kryo- recycling are here:
http://www.buendnis-zukunft.de/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=174
This link should be spread to politicans and people- organizations.