March Against The Incinerator -
The Final Countdown For Local
Protest Group
Wednesday 6th October 2010
It's been an unprecedented protest campaign in Derbyshire and one which locals say shows the strength of feeling against a scheme to build a gasification plant at the former Cammax site at Dunston.
It's more than two years since plans were submitted to Derbyshire County Council for planning permission by the Company behind the scheme, Cyclamax, and in two weeks time the County Council Planning Department will finally make a decision as to whether that permission has been granted.
Bosses at Cyclamax admit it's the first time it's operated one of these plants before. They say it's safe, and will pose no danger to anyone living or working around the site.
However, a campaign group - Chesterfield Against Incineration - disagrees and is opposing the plans, with the support of 12,000 residents and local businesses.
The Chesterfield Post caught up with Julie Harrington, from Dunston, who's behind the campaign and she told us why she and the group are opposing it.
We began by asking her to tell us about the proposed plans for the site. She told us that, "Although the company have described the site as a 'Resource Park' the Environment Agency have confirmed that it will be used as a waste site.
Although the site has been traditionally industrial usage, there is nothing around the site that is industrial anymore - It's now housing, rural or business Estates. The roads are not big enough either to sustain the needs of the site."
She believes too that the technology is untested - the only similar technology is at a site in Dumfries that is believed to be causing concerns. With 30 thousand residents and 19 schools around the area, the group believe that this is no place to try out the new technology.
Julie went on to say that the company have not operated one of these before - they do have sites in Avonmouth and London, and have just had permission turned down in Derby for a similar venture. The only similar site in the UK is in Dumfries.
Her concerns regarding the plant centre on the health issues. She has two small children who she wants to play outdoors and attend school nearby without them breathing stuff in from the plant. Experts have backed up those concerns but Julie says she, as a layman "cannot understand how you can put waste materials in to burn at one end, and get fresh air out of the other end." There is simply no historical evidence to reassure her. The group believe that the proposed plans will affect the economic viability of the area, with many businesses around needing a good image for clients.
Chesterfield Borough Council has rejected the claim - in fact every Borough, District and Town Council involved so far has objected to it. The final say however will come on October 19th when a case Officer will present his case at County Hall.
The group has experts lined up to speak on the day, citing Environmental impact and heath implications as reasons why it should not go ahead.
Julie sums it up by saying, "it's the wrong place and the wrong time for this" and is emphatic that, if the plans are given the go ahead on the 19th, the group will appeal via a Judicial Review.
Ahead of the decision the Group are holding a March in protest on Saturday, 9th October. It starts off at Dunston Garden Centre at 11 am and protestors will March past the site, and onto Whittington Moor. Local MP's and Councillors will be in attendance and anyone wishing to join is very welcome.
Natascha Engel is Labour MP for NE derbyshire and many of her constituents will be affected by the plans. She told the Chesterfield Post, "This is a decision about unproven technology. We should not let our towns and villages be used in an experiment that could blight the area for decades to come."
The planning application can be viewed in full on Derbyshire County Council'swebsite under ref: CW2/0708/56
Download the C.A.I. Flyer by clicking HERE (PDF file, 580kb)
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