'Waste plant would be bad for an already unhealthy area'

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Wednesday, September 08, 2010
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This is Derbyshire

A LEADING councillor has told a public inquiry he voted against plans for a massive waste treatment plant in Derby because he feared it would cause people health problems.

Conservative Philip Hickson was among the members of Derby City Council's planning board which rejected an application for Resource Recovery Solutions to build the plant in Sinfin Lane.

RRS appealed against the decision and the result of this will be decided by a public inquiry which began yesterday.

Mr Hickson told the inquiry he was "not convinced" that emissions caused by the plant would be safe even if the Environment Agency signed it off.

He said: "I have my fears, shared by the community, that health effects will be a problem.

"There is no unequivocal view from the Derby Primary Care Trust, Health Protection Agency, or the Environment Agency that this proposal would be safe.

"Therefore the committee and I expressed our reservations in refusing the application."

Mr Hickson accused the PCT and HPA of "almost seeming to fob off" the planning board with their comments on the plant's health implications.

He said Sinfin was already an unhealthy area, with the highest rates of adult and infant mortality and cancer in the city and that the plant's effects on air quality could make matters worse.

The three reasons given for the board's refusal by Hugh Richards, for the city's planning service, yesterday, were that the plant would "result in significant harm to the environment", cause traffic problems, and have an "unacceptable visual impact".

The decision came despite officers recommending the plant be given the go-ahead and the city and county councils signing a deal with RRS to deal with the county's waste.

Part of that agreement means that the authorities have to pay 90 per cent of the appeal costs, nearly £400,000 from the county and about £180,000 from the city.

Prior to yesterday's evidence from the city council, councillors and campaigners launched a scathing attack on the proposals in their opening statements.

Councillor Robin Turner, who represents Sinfin ward, said the application should be rejected on air quality grounds.

He said: "There is a quantifiable and significant breach of air quality that cannot be denied, but is being glossed over."

Simon Bacon, chairman of Sinfin and Spondon Against Incineration, which is battling the plant proposals, said there was no suitable site for such a building. He said: "There is no acceptable site as the health risks put forward by many have not been fully addressed by the relevant authorities."

Martin Kingston QC, for RRS, made a similarly robust statement, saying that objections were groundless.

He said some statements that have been made regarding the plant's effects on health were "wild and irresponsible".

Mr Kingston added: "It is unfortunate that city council members should not have had the courage to grant planning permission in this case.

"That they did not do so has resulted in not only substantial expenditure, but also delayed the implementation of the proposal, the benefits of which are patent."

The inquiry continues.

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  • Profile image for This is Derbyshire

    by john, ilk derby

    Thursday, September 09 2010, 9:30PM

    “Penny - Five - lamps
    Indeed yes, I will do that it will make for some interesting listening however has any physical evidence been presented such as soil samples showing toxin's that have gone into the soil from in and around the land fill sites as there is one or two that I know of that will have
    and as regard to the air quality that is the main stay of the defence against the incinerator being built as I do know and understand what they are referring to when they say this which also relates to the soil toxin's that I referred to, which come from man made materials which are comely known has PCBs or polymer Carbons which contain other toxins that are detrimental to health in a big way should they breathed in directly there is a simple way of detecting these and that is to fill a plastic bag full of man made materials and set light to it under controlled conditions the black acrid smoke that comes from it , which has a sweat poignant choking smell and taste to it , which also clings to your clothes the choking smell are the toxin's entering the air when burnt i.e. poly carbon's I could go on and tell you what these toxin's are but for now they are known has inhibitors in production circles primary to stop the man made products from degrading at a rapid rate anyway I don;t mean to depress you but I will be there to listen and should you be there and wish to look for me my attire will stand out”

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    by Penny, Five Lamps

    Thursday, September 09 2010, 3:30AM

    “Excuse double posting, due to another glitch.

    @john, ilk Derby

    Acknowledge your response thanks for the interesting background.

    Re your comment ¿me, me¿ society I may concede that, it is part of the problem but can¿t recall on recent threads that it has been particularly evident though I may not have seen them.

    Refreshing to think that children might argue about putting rubbish in the bin must be better than in the street?

    Of course continuing with landfill is not an option. So things can be changed and turned around if there is a will, all is not lost, though it would have been a good if progress on the subject of waste had been addressed several decades ago and not leaving to the last minute, knee jerk reactions to the impending increased landfill penalties!
    As individuals we can reduce, after all our rubbish costs us dear. So why produce it in excess and poison ourselves, the planet and strip it of its valuable resources in the process, so there will be nothing left for future generations or the amazing life forms with which we share our world?
    The three bin system is the constructive idea you are seeking but agree it still needs perfecting. I do not understand how people can afford to buy food to throw away!
    If food is wasted then wrap it up well in newspaper before putting it in the brown bin it avoid smells, maggots etc, there are biodegradable bags available as well.

    If you can, come to the inquiry next Tuesday to hear Professor Connett himself on the subject, a world renowned expert.
    He will be cross examined by Mr Kingston QC for the appellant.”

  • Profile image for This is Derbyshire

    by Penny, Five Lamps

    Thursday, September 09 2010, 2:40AM

    “@Andy,

    Off subject, I like trees and hugging = that I¿m not adverse to tree huggers!
    Now back to topic: this conversation needs to be had across the city not left to just any one group or section of the community to deal with, that is grossly unfair, it shouldn¿t go unnoticed that it is one of the most deprived areas in Derby therefore it follows it is no accident it is the chosen site for the proposed incinerator.

    ¿Re NIMBYism is a silly word, but very appropriate.
    P.S. talking of NIMBYs Penny, I thought Five Lamps was on the other side of town?¿

    Not a great distance and your point being?

    I fail to see your problem I¿m completely onside for the people living in Sinfin & Osmaston and the campaign against incineration.
    As surely as night follows day I have never subscribed to the view out of sight, out of mind, nothing to do with me attitude therefore it will not be a surprise that when you hear, see, read ¿No Incineration¿ it means just that, not in Sinfin, not anywhere. It is neither a sane, sensible or a sustainable solution.”

  • Profile image for This is Derbyshire

    by Penny, Five Lamps

    Thursday, September 09 2010, 2:37AM

    “@Andy,

    Off subject, I like trees and hugging = that I¿m not adverse to tree huggers!
    Now back to topic: this conversation needs to be had across the city not left to just any one group or section of the community to deal with, that is grossly unfair, it shouldn¿t go unnoticed that it is one of the most deprived areas in Derby therefore it follows it is no accident it is the chosen site for the proposed incinerator.

    ¿Re NIMBYism is a silly word, but very appropriate.
    P.S. talking of NIMBYs Penny, I thought Five Lamps was on the other side of town?¿

    Not a great distance and your point being?

    I fail to see your problem I¿m completely onside for the people living in Sinfin & Osmaston and the campaign against incineration.
    As surely as night follows day I have never subscribed to the view out of sight, out of mind, nothing to do with me attitude therefore it will not be a surprise that when you hear, see, read ¿No Incineration¿ it means just that, not in Sinfin, not anywhere. It is neither a sane, sensible or a sustainable solution.”

  • Profile image for This is Derbyshire

    by Simon, Blagreaves, Derby

    Thursday, September 09 2010, 1:04AM

    “In the interests of fairness I stated that the plant would emit almost a tonne of nanoparticles and I stated it as fact. This was taken from an RRS document that did not put across information in an open way so I am unable to confirm this statement.
    @ Andy I wouldnt agree with the process for other reasons such as particle emissions and the plants impact on waste management further up the waste tree of which energy from waste is near the bottom. What I highlighted regarding dioxin monitoring is clearly without constant monitoring we are unable to know when the public are at risk. Even then did the EA tell the residents of the Isle of Wight there had been a problem - it would appear not !”

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