Greens say no to incinerator!

Interesting to read today that voters see Greens as more 'favourable' than UKIP, Labour and Lib Dems http://i100.io/ge59Fcl  Anyway here is our County Councillor Sarah Lunnon being interviewed after her speech at the demo yesterday.

Green comment on decision re incinerator planning refusal

Randwick woods on Saturday

See my film of 4 Green voices at: http://stroudcommunity.tv/greens-welcome-javelin-park-incinerator-planning-refusal/

Congrats GlosVAIN, Sarah Lunnon and all others who have campaigned against this incinerator

Meeting in afternoon

I only managed to join an hour of the 11 hour debate at Kingsholm - in the last hour this evening all 18 councillors voted unanimously to throw out the plans for the proposed energy-from-waste plant! The story is not over but this is an astonishing achievement - but on the other hand is just common sense - the incinerator never stacked up on environmental, economic, social, health and almost any other grounds.

Stadium

My ticket

Huge congrats to campaigners at GlosVAIN - and to all others who have played a huge part - particularly Green Party's County councillor Sarah Lunnon, who seconded the motion for refusal - she has doggedly asked questions and challenged reports at the County over 4 years - indeed in my view in many ways has led the questioning - but also huge thanks to Greens like Sue and Gerald Hartley and Chris Harmer - they've done an amazing job.

Over recent weeks, while still holding out hope for refusal at times I could not help feeling this could be a lost battle - but taking heart from previous wins like with the NHS we all have battled on - community power can win through!!

See BBC report here.

Gerald Hartley

John Marjoram

'Trashed' tonight - details of incinerator demos

Tonight in Nailsworth “TRASHED” environmental documentary with Jeremy Irons  - see details below - 'Brilliant, but shocking - Shows the effects of global waste - The effect of plastic waste on marine life - How landfill and incineration accelerate global warming - How some solutions are as frightening and toxic as the problem itself.' All very relevant as we move closer to the decision re the incinerator....See also films about the Javelin park proposals on Stroud Community TV here.

Friday 8th March – Nailsworth: Arkell Community Centre, Forest Green  at 7.15 p.m. (doors open at 6.45 p.m.) Organiser: Cllr. Sally Thorpe (ref. Climate Week)

Thursday 14th March – Churchdown: GL3 Community Hub, Cheltenham Road East at 7.30 p.m. (doors open at 7.15 p.m.) Organiser: Churchdown Parish Council in partnership with GL3 Community Hub

Thursday 21st March - Cirencester: Royal Agriculture College, Stroud Road, Cirencester at 7.30 p.m. (doors open at 7.00 p.m.) Organiser: John Hughes

Sunday 24th March - Stroud: Lansdown Hall (formerly The Space), Lansdown, Stroud, GL5 1BB at 7.00 p.m. (doors open at 6.30 p.m.) Organiser: Transition Stroud

 
The film includes why two incinerators were closed, interviews with leading experts and Barbara Farmer of SWARD speaks about Glos.’s toxic tip at Bishops Cleeve. Jeremy Irons said: "There is an ... urgent need for the most imaginative and productive solutions to this troublesome subject to be understood and shared by as many communities as possible throughout the world.” 

DEMO NOW FROM 11 a.m. on 14th March and the Planning meeting on 21st March

1. The Demonstration at Javelin Park on Thursday 14th March will now take place from 11:00 a.m. (not 9:30 as previously publicised).

2. Get your tickets now for the Javelin Park planning meeting at Kingsholm Stadium. These are not being distributed until the day of the meeting. You are advised to get there at 8am in the morning and the doors will open at 8.30, the first 300 will be directed into the meeting - if there are more than 300 this will be when the tickets are used. If there are more than 300 then the others will be directed to a viewing area where there will be tv screens available to watch the hearing on. The meeting starts 10am.
 More details and how to sign petition at www.glosain.org.uk

Why an incinerator is wrong

OK we've blogged on all the reasons before but this short film by Dame Ellen MacArthur says it all - we are crazy to be burning valuable resources:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21182670

The list of those opposing the incinerator just grows...

From GlosVAIN - click to enlarge

Green attempt to scupper incinerator

At Javelin Park

 The date for the incinerator to go to planning has finally been set - 21st March - only 2 days before GCC goes into the election period - GlosVAIN are organising a demo at 9am at Javelin Park on 14th when there is a site visit planned by the planning committee - see here.

At Full Council last Thursday Labour, Liberal Democrat and Green Party members backed a motion put down by Cllr Martin Whiteside (Green, Thrupp) and seconded by Cllr Paul Denney (Lab, Cam West), which called for the authority to investigate whether it could legally withhold its black bag rubbish from Glos County Council and find a better way to dispose of it.

The motion was about noting the actions of West Norfolk District Council Waste collection Authority, who have entered into a contract to process their black bag waste/resource, outside of the waste disposal authority, Norfolk County Council - it is not plain sailing but the motion only sought to investigate the possibilities. With falling black bag waste/resource volumes and rising resource values, it is key to see whether such an option would benefit the council tax payers of Stroud District by providing a lower cost and more flexible approach to processing over the next 25 years. Indeed we have a responsibility to look at best options for recycling. It is extraordinary that GCC are tying us into  a 25 year contract when waste technologies are developing at such a pace....

The SNJ have been great at reporting on the incinerator - here's some of their report on this issue below in blue (see full report here) - but first I wanted to respond to Tories who asked why as the administration was a motion bought to Council.....the administration could have just done it....well setting aside that the Exec member was away at the time and we needed to act fast this was a taster for how the committee system might work - ie all councillors getting involved in decisions - but more importantly this is a key issue with the electorate and it is absolutely right that they hear these discussions in the open and not behind closed doors. I also think GCC need to hear the debate - they have been very poor indeed at responding to SDC's letters and requests (you can see Glos County Councillor Sarah Lunnon's comment on last weeks GCC meeting here)....interestingly the Conservatives had a host of comments to make at Full Council and the debate lasted over 45 mins - so perhaps they did welcome the opportunity to discuss after all? Indeed at least one local District Council Conservative declared they were in favour of the incinerator!

The vast majority of the Conservative group on SDC, which has twice objected in the past to the incinerator scheme being pursued by their Tory colleagues on the county council, abstained. Their refusal to endorse the motion prompted jeers from Labour, Lib Dem and Green Party councillors.

During the debate, Cllr Chris Brine (Lab, Stonehouse) challenged the Tories to support the motion, saying the council had talked the talk and now it was time for it to walk the walk.
Introducing his motion, Cllr Whiteside said: "The question is can we do more than just complain about the incinerator? The question is do we have to send our waste to a system our communities do not want?"

Cllr Whiteside said the Localism Act might let SDC hang on to its waste and send it to recycling providers instead of passing it over to GCC as it does now. He added that if SDC was able to withhold its waste from GCC, it could invite other local authorities opposed to the scheme to do so, potentially throwing the project into doubt. 

Cllr David Drew (Lab, Paganhill) said: "If this authority says it is not prepared to send its waste to this monstrosity then the whole case for it will fall apart." 

During the debate, former mayor John Marjoram (Green, Trinity) hit out at Stroud MP Neil Carmichael, saying it was 'disgraceful' he was not supporting the incinerator call-in campaign. In a statement supplied to the SNJ ahead of the meeting, the Conservative leader Keith Pearson (Upton St Leonards), said his party felt the motion was not ‘properly timed’ and did not need to be tabled for SDC to look at whether it could withhold its waste. 

Cllr Nigel Cooper (Painswick), one of two Conservative councillors to vote against the motion, said he believed the incinerator would be ‘safe, economical and environmentally sound’.

New report shows incinerator is wrong solution

Today GlosVAIN launched an independent report that they commissioned from waste consultants Ynys Resources. It looks at the Javelin Park incinerator project and concludes that there are many weaknesses. This could have been a risk as the consultants could have said it was a good idea to have an incinerator - but infact they recommend that Gloucestershire County Council look at alternatives, because the incinerator project is inflexible, out-dated, not good value and does not meet EU law. No surprises to many of us who have been looking at this for a long time - the only surprise is why GCC still insist on going for an incinerator.

Read all about it and see the report in the ‘news’ section of the GlosVAIN website at:
http://glosvain.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2f929ea2a16b057256cf4dabd&id=0a70ec1e98&e=373e4df6df

You can see coverage on ITV West by Ken Goodwin:
http://glosvain.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2f929ea2a16b057256cf4dabd&id=e784a12721&e=373e4df6df



Well done GlosVAIN! See films on Stroud Community TV about the incinerator: http://stroudcommunity.tv/tag/incinerator/

Incinerator film

I've just received an email from GlosVAIN asking to publicise this event....this is what it said:

COMING TO GLOUCESTERSHIRE: DO NOT MISS THE CANNES AWARD WINNING MOVIE “TRASHED” Starring JEREMY IRONS

“TRASHED” environmental documentary
Brilliant, but shocking - Shows the effects of global waste - The effect of plastic waste on marine life - How landfill and incineration accelerate global warming - How some solutions are as frightening and toxic as the problem itself.

Includes why two incinerators were closed, interviews with leading experts and Barbara Farmer of SWARD speaks about Glos.’s toxic tip at Bishops Cleeve
Jeremy Irons said: "There is an ... urgent need for the most imaginative and productive solutions to this troublesome subject to be understood and shared by as many communities as possible throughout the world.”

Showing two places on: Friday 1st February 2013  Gloucestershire University, Cheltenham Park Campus, Room TC014, 7.30 p.m.  (doors open 7.00 p.m.) & Friday 8th February 2013   Quedgeley Community Centre, School Lane, GL2 4PJ, 8.00 p.m.  (doors open 7.40 p.m.) ENTRY FREE – Donations Welcome.

This event is supported by: Gloucestershire Friends of the Earth Network www.glosfoe.org.uk,, GlosVain www.glosvain.info,, Gloucestershire against Incinerators www.glosain.org.uk and Safety in Waste and Rubbish Disposal (SWARD) www.swardbishopscleeve.co.uk

Last night Randwick Parish Council oppose incinerator

One of the many protests against the incinerator

Last night Randwick Parish joined many other local parishes in agreeing their opposition to the incinerator plans. They have agreed with Stroud District Council's reasons for objecting - see below and supported the District Council's call in.

There is another public meeting locally in Whiteshill and Ruscombe Village Hall on 24th Jan - see here details - unfortunately it is Budget meeting on 24th so I will miss the talk - it still amazes me that the Conservatives at the County are still going forward with the incinerator - even the District Council Tories are opposed .

There is a chance we can still stop this  - do also see my recent incinerator talk (2 films) at Randwick Village Hall on Stroud Community TV: http://stroudcommunity.tv/tag/incinerator/

Films of talks are not great but they do cover some of the key issues....

See key points by District Development Control Committee below and download the District Council's paper at: www.stroud.gov.uk/info/members/cms.../Agenda_item_6.pdf

Development Control Committee resolves to raise the following additional objections:-
1. Despite the justification put forward by the applicants, due to its scale, height, massing and industrial character the proposed structure fails to mitigate the harm it causes to the Cotswold AONB, its setting and the rural landscape. Additionally the social, environmental and economic benefits of the proposal do not outweigh the landscape harm, contrary to Policy WCS14 of the Draft Waste Core Strategy.
2. The scale, height, massing and industrial character of the proposed structure does not reflect or contribute positively to the character and quality of the area contrary to policy WCS17 of the Draft Waste Core Strategy.
3. In arriving at a potential judgement that the benefits outweigh the costs, the County Council has not consulted upon or provided any clear evidence that demonstrates how the performance of alternative solutions (which could still be within the scope of the Draft Waste Core Strategy) have been independent sustainability appraisal exists that would provide a sound basis for decision making.
4. The applicant has determined the waste capacity of the facility based on GCC figures and their own assessment of demand, it is however inappropriate for the market to determine scale and technology where there is such a harmful impact on rural landscape, the Cotswold AONB and its setting.
5. The site constraints, including the availability of a residual heat user should determine both technology and scale.
6. Given the evidence of significant falling waste volumes (excluding garden and HRC) and the number and capacity of permitted residual waste schemes in the region, the County Council should urgently reassess the need for a facility of this type, of this scale and in this location.
7. Further information is still required in order to categorically determine if noise levels will be acceptable. 
8. Further clarification is required with regard to
the modelling process, as is confirmation that the EA are satisfied with the model used for the human health determinant.

Whiteshill and Ruscombe: Incinerator Meeting on 24th

21st Jan update: this meeting has been cancelled due to weather

Javelin Park Incinerator Meeting

 Whiteshill and Ruscombe Parish

 24^th January 2013

 7.30pm Whiteshill Village Hall  

Speakers: UBB (provider of Incinerator) and Glosvain (Glos vale against incineration)

20minute presentation from both followed by Q&A session

I sadly can't make this meeting as I will be at the District Council's Budget setting meeting. You can however see my films of the talk in Randwick at: http://stroudcommunity.tv/tag/incinerator/

Films of GlosVAIN incinerator talk in Randwick

Yesterday I uploaded 2 films to Stroud Community TV of the talk in Randwick Village Hall (see poster left) about the proposals for an incinerator at Javelin Park - nearly 70 people came along and there was a lively discussion - these films are highlights of the actual talk rather than discussion and questions afterwards. See them at: http://stroudcommunity.tv/tag/incinerator/

Here are the direct links to each film:

http://stroudcommunity.tv/glosvain-talk-part-one-history-of-incinerator-in-glos/
http://stroudcommunity.tv/glosvain-talk-part-2-why-an-incinerator-is-wrong-for-gloucestershire/

Do also like our Facebook page and individual films: http://www.facebook.com/StroudCommunityTV

If you missed talks the next three booked are at:

Update: Please note that GlosVAIN's presentation in Leonard Stanley will take place on Mon 21st January and NOT Mon 14th Jan as previously advertised.

14th January 2013 Leonard Stanley (Village Hall) starting at 7.30 p.m.
21st January 2013 Upton St. Leonards (Village Hall, Annex Room) starting at 7.30 p.m.
24th January 2013 Churchdown (GL3 Community Hub, GL3 1HX) starting at 7.00 p.m.

Let's hoping 2013 sees the end of the incinerator proposals!

Porritt incinerator public meeting details confirmed

Before Christmas I noted a public meeting was planned (see here) to look at the proposals regarding the incinerator - well below are the details of this key public meeting - meanwhile the new e-petition against the incinerator is at: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/43257  

PUBLIC ENQUIRY WITH AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION
MASS BURN INCINERATION NOT IN ANYONE’S BACKYARD 

guests are

Jonathon Porritt (Forum for the Future)

a representative from G.C.C.

and John Beattie (SWARD)

Representatives from organisations who have been looking at the proposal will be present Chair: Trish Dickinson (Facilitator International Ecocide leadership Training London University)

on Friday 11^th January 2013, 6.00 p.m. - 8.00 p.m.

at Bethesda Church, Great Norwood Street, Cheltenham, GL50 2AP

Admission Free

This event is supported by: Gloucestershire Friends of the Earth Network www.glosfoe.org.uk, Gloucestershire against Incinerators www.glosain.org.uk, Gloucestershire Vale against Incineration www.glosvain.info and Safety in Waste and Rubbish Disposal www.SWARDBishopsCleeve.co.uk

 

Calls for public inquiry on incinerator; meeting and petition

View across to Bread Street, Ruscombe

There is huge public concern over the potential building of a large waste incinerator at Javelin Park. Greens have long seen the incinerator as a huge mistake. Cllr Sarah Lunnon has been leading the challenges at the county to find out the truth.....across the County opposition is growing on all fronts with more Parish and Town councillors signing up.

Many of us are calling for a public inquiry. To lead the call, a meeting is being setting up with Jonathan Porritt from Forum for the Future on January 11th at Bethesda Church, Great Norwood Street, Cheltenham, GL50 2AP at 6.00 p.m.  Stan Waddington has also been invited; the hope is to have a real discussion of all the issues.

The e-petition against the incinerator has been restored to the No 10 website. I hope all make the effort to sign up and help defeat this proposal. There are so many reasons why it should not proceed that it is mind-blowing that the CC can even attempt to defend it. Go to:
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/43257

Incineration opposition growing all the time....

Greens protesting at Javelin Park

Monday night a couple of weeks ago nearly 70 people in Randwick Village Hall turned up for a talk from GlosVain about the incinerator proposal at Javelin Park - less than 3 miles from here.

I hope to have  a film of some of the highlights available after Christmas - what amazed me at the meeting was the number of people who had not been aware of the proposals....yet it has been in the press regularly, in my ward leaflets, this blog and many other places.....anyhow the latest shocking revelation comes in the letter below from Green councillor Sarah Lunnon - what she and GlosVain have found out adds to worries....

Letter to local press by Sarah Lunnon:

Information released by GCC due to an FoI request indicate the Case Officer for Javelin Park was considering refusal or deferment prior to leaving the application in dubious circumstances are a cause for concern.

The timeline for appointing consultants gets murkier, and the suspicion that all must be done to get the application accepted grows weekly, and as the FoI request shows, councillor’s questions, i.e. my questions, are passed around officers who request a ‘line’ to feed me. Well here’s a suggested line – the truth.

It is disappointing that the professionalism of officers and the independence of the planning authority have been made open to question due to the crass determination of Conservative Politicians to provide a market driven facility for the management of our residual waste.

In this rubbish debate the Greens have, over the last 30 years, made the relevant points about capacity, about facilities that can expand or contract with demand, about investment in reduction and re-use, and yes we banged on and on about recycling. Currently the county is so un-interested in reduction or re-use strategies it invests about 0.3% of its waste budget in this area. Maybe unsurprisingly for its a fact if we reduce, re-use or recycle much more, there will quite literally not be enough rubbish to feed the rubbish facility.

So the planning looks shoddy and the figures are rubbish - and it's a contract worth £1/2 billion.

Sarah Lunnon, County Councillor Stroud East

GCC on flue cleaning and badgers

Wow what a day yesterday - poor folk travelling - I gave up trying to get to Gloucester with 18 inches of water on the road at Tuffley, but this evening did manage to get to Cheltenham ....anyway I just got copied in this press notice after the Glos County Council  meeting and wanted to share:

• In response to questions from Cllr Sarah Lunnon (Green, Stroud East) the Waste Champion failed to assure council that the technology to clean the flue gas from the proposed EfW plant at Javelin Park will provide the cleanest emissions possible. Cllr Lunnon said “it is unsatisfactory that UBB have indicated that better flue cleaning technology exists but is not being proposed for Javelin Park but the Rubbish Champion indicates that the best available technology has been chosen. My suspicion is that it all comes down to cost and the extra energy requirement needed to provide cleaner emissions.  The HPA is investigating the Health Impacts of Incineration, why is Cllr Waddington in accepting this technology enabling the perception that he and the administration are contributing to the pollution load borne by those living or working downwind of Javelin Park”
   
• Gloucestershire Green Party is disappointed that at a meeting of the County Council the Tory position on the proposed free-running badger cull was an unpleasant mix of emotion and politics. Council failed to take the opportunity to change new tenancies which would prohibit culling on the associated county farms. “The Tories in debate declared their ignorance in regard to shooting badgers” stated Cllr Sarah Lunnon, Green, Stroud East “they should follow the science and help stop the proposed massacre of Gloucestershire’s iconic wildlife.”

Interestingly Badger culls which never happened are thought to have cost Gloucestershire Police a whopping £64,000.The force is claiming against the Government for planning security around controversial...

Randwick talk on incinerator: why should we oppose?

Click on the picture to enlarge - free talk on Monday 3rd December at 7.30 in Randwick Village Hall. Click on tag and scroll down to see previous blogs on incineration.

Object to the incinerator: have you done it yet?

I've covered all the reasons why an incinerator would be a mistake previously on this blog - plus written to the press regularly and supported the motion that saw the District Councils virtually unanimous decision against the incinerator - click on incinerator tag below for more info and scroll down - but the County are still committed. 

Many of us have also written to Planning - have you? There is still time - please do in your own words say why you object. GlosVain, which the Green Party have worked closely with, have produced some thoughts to help folk put an objection together - you may have other issues:

To:  The Planning Unit, Environment & Community Directorate, Gloucestershire County Council, Shire Hall, Gloucester, GL1 2TH.  E: planningdc@gloucestershire.gov.uk

Ref: 12/0008/STMAJW Energy from Waste Facility at Javelin Park.

I object to this planning application and ask that permission be refused because: 

·       The proposed incinerator is expensive, outdated technology – there are much cheaper, better, less visibly intrusive and safer alternatives.

·       I am worried that the incinerator may affect health and the environment.

·       It would have an unacceptable visual impact, flouting the 15.7m limit on the site.

·       Entering into a 25-year contract when future waste need is unknown is reckless

·       Waste in Gloucestershire has and is reducing – this incinerator is not needed.

See details of public meetings at: http://www.glosvain.info/

There will also hopefully be one in Randwick on 3rd December - to be confirmed>

Incineration awareness campaign on Saturday

The first of a series of Incineration Awareness Campaign Events is on Saturday 27th October and campaigners need your help to make it a success! They will be at The Cross in Gloucester Town Centre from 11.a.m. to 4.00 p.m., handing out leaflets and collecting signatures. The key publicity hour is between 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. Some will be wearing scary masks. If you know that you can go please let Greg know by emaling: sewell.greg(at)gmail.com

Film: The Towering incinerator at Javelin Park

GlosVain have made a film that premiered on Thursday night in Stroud. It looks at the size and other aspects of the incinerator. See the film at: http://stroudcommunity.tv/the-towering-incinerator-at-javelin-park/

See Citizen report here.