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[rick]

Two points:

1.  If an incinerator is to be built, it should be strategically located so that BOTH THE ELECTRICITY AND THE HEAT can be used by high energy demand consumers nearby.  This way, the pollution caused by burning unavoidable and non-putrescible waste streams will at least come hand-in-hand with the maximum sustainability gain - at least in terms of reducing CO2 emissions from burning precious fossil fuels at conventional 'electricity only' plants. 

This will be possible to a greater or lesser degree at each of the proposed sites as the infrastructure cost of piping hot water long distances can quickly become prohibitive.  Is this investment in DECENTRALISED LOW-CARBON HEAT AND POWER being considered in conjunction with the wider energy and carbon reduction strategy of the local development plans?

2.  Your squabbles over your respective petitions are symptomatic of the reasons why so many of the electorate choose not to support either of you. 

[mythoughts]

Biffa waste incinerator planned for Ware:
 
http://www.letsrecycle.com/do/ecco.py/view_item?listid=37&listcatid=217&listitemid=53526&section=waste_management
 

 "Our proposal is not directed at the Hertfordshire domestic refuse contract for which other organisations are currently tendering. Our plans are to deal with the non-hazardous waste produced by the thousands of businesses, shops and organisations in the area,"
 
Full press release:
 
http://www.biffa.co.uk/news/Plans_for_Hertfordshire_energy_recovery_facility
 

[mythoughts]

Some recent headlines with links to full stories re WI:
 
Pro-incineration expert denied risks of second-hand smoke:
http://www.vancouversun.com/health/incineration+expert+denied+risks+second+hand+smoke/2066149/story.html
 
Incinerator row hots up after protest
http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1428910?UserKey=
 
UK rubbish levels 'waste millions'
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5ht1P1FGWMoGhcOg0xVFgO-Xc9rLw
 
UK losing £650m a year by binning and burning waste
http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_round_up/333537/uk_losing_650m_a_year_by_binning_and_burning_waste.html
 
Wildlife fears over incinerator plans
http://www.chad.co.uk/news/Wildlife-fears-over-incinerator-plans.5708437.jp
  Incinerator protestors take to streets Hundreds of Peterhead residents protested against a proposed waste to energy plant on the outskirts of the town http://news.stv.tv/scotland/north/128343-incinerator-protestors-take-to-streets/

[shapps]

Thought it might be useful in the context of our discussion on New Barnfield to post this newsletter from Herts CC up on the Welwyn Hatfield Forum.

At the end of the newsletter I've suggested a course of action that you might like to take:




Residents should take part in the consultation about the waste development framework by writing in and asking for New Barnfield to be removed from the Sites List.  It will all help add to the pressure.

Grant.

[rogbert]

The problem is if it dosent get built in hatfield it has to go somewhere else in hertfordshire, in someones else back yard who would be in our situation so what do we do . we need somewhere to dispose of our rubbish if you look at sweden they have been running waste disposal sites for years in town centres getting power to run public resources.

[John Wood]

Berkshire are hoping to have their waste treatment plant, at Stewartby in Bedfordshire.

[BenedictMcAleenan]

Hi Everyone,

The County Council is now embarking on two consultations.

The first is on the Waste Core Strategy and Development Policies and the second is on Waste Site Allocations.  The start date is tomorrow (Nov 2nd) and the closing date is Dec 18th.

The consultation is available at: http://consult.hertscc.gov.uk/portal/minerals_and_waste/cs/wcs

People can also respond in a number of other ways as outlined at www.hertsdirect.org/wasteplanningconsultation . Paper, electronic or by visiting the HCC or district council offices are other ways to respond, in case you know people who can't access the consultation online.

Although the consultations are not part of the Waste Procurement process, they can be useful to register resident opposition to New Barnfield being on the waste sites list in the first place.

Although we also have petitions running and are generally trying to make a big noise about these things, the consultation is a more 'official' way to protest the use of New Barnfield.

So, please make sure you go to http://consult.hertscc.gov.uk/portal/minerals_and_waste/cs/wcs
and make your point against New Barnfield being used for any waste processing facility (aka incinerator).

Thanks,

Benedict.

[mythoughts]

Without conducting any research itself into the the possible health hazards presented to those living near waste incinertors, the Health Protection Agency has seen fit to deem them safe.
 
Actually, the HPA has always deemed them to be safe but, in my view, has now embarked upon a PR campaign to smooth the way for the implementation of WI and has simply re-released its long-held position on this to facilitate that.
 
Now, we all know there's good and there's bad science BUT the HPA has revealed that it does not even recommend undertaking any scientific research exploring the possible health risks posed by waste incinerators.
 
In my opinion, making decisions on public health without conducting scientific research is nigh on negligent. And this is the lot that's supposed to help us get through Swine Flu 2 - The Terminator.
 
Prediction: In ten years time the HPA will commission research to find out why there are higher incidences of birth deformities and specific cancers found amongst populations living within a certain proximity of waste incinerators.
 

 
http://www.edie.net/news/news_story.asp?id=16940&channel=0&title=Incinerators+'no+significant+threat'+to+public+health[/]
 
 Full report:

 http://www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAwebFile/HPAweb_C/1251473372218[/]
 

Just out today, in Scotland, the line is more cautious than the HPA:
 
SEPA report on health effects of incinerators is inconclusive 02 Nov 2009

http://www.mrw.co.uk/page.cfm/action=Archive/ArchiveID=26/EntryID=5992

http://www.documents.hps.scot.nhs.uk/environmental/incineration-and-health/incineration-of-waste-and-reported-human-health-effects.pdf

[shapps]

Local MP Grant Shapps has launched a novel new tactic in the campaign against an incinerator at New Barnfield in Hatfield - a 'Save New Barnfield' wristband. The bands will be sold for £1.50 with proceeds being donated to the special needs school which currently occupies the site.

The wristbands - inspired by the Help for Heroes and Live Aid charity bands - were the idea of local resident Dawn Hunt, whose son attends Southfield School which might be moved if an incinerator is built there. The launch coincides with the start this week of the County Council's waste consultation process, which could decide the future of the New Barnfield site in south Hatfield.

Click To Enlarge

www.SaveNewBarnfield.com[/url]

Grant said: "At the moment New Barnfield is home to two schools and a library. It would cause problems for the people of South Hatfield and their families if we had lorries rattling through every five minutes. We need local people to tell the County Council what they think about this. That's why we're pleased to support Dawn's idea of getting the wristbands made - it's a great way to show what local people really think about it."

Click To Enlarge

ENDS

Editors' Notes:

"    Information and a link to the consultation site can be found at http://www.hertsdirect.org/envroads/environment/plan/hccdevplan/wasteplanning/
"    The consultation will continue from 2nd November until 18th December 2009.

[Mighty Hatfield]

well done, another great idea shamelessly hijacked! ( i thought they were going to be green to match the school uniform  )
 
all publicity is good publicity, so well done, but lets not
 
a) turn this into a nimby argument (even if its NOT built next to a school its STILL not alright)
b) forget who is making the decisions - the county council.
c) forget that, WE DONT WANT AN INCINERATOR.
 
it would appear the Shapps campaign does not address these issues? Strange that. 

[MikeHobday]

lets not
c) forget that, WE DONT WANT AN INCINERATOR.
 
it would appear the Shapps campaign does not address these issues? Strange that. 

Not surprising at all. Grant isn't opposed to incineration!
http://mikehobday.blogspot.com/2009/08/grant-shapps-wont-save-new-barnfield.html
Mike

[trekbat]

OK, let me see if I understand the situation correctly:

Packaging and its manufacture requires energy (mainly fossil fuels or nuclear - leading to higher CO2 levels or toxic nuclear waste) and resources (like cutting down trees for paper or oil for plastics).

Once used, packaging needs to be disposed off. Currently, a large amount is going into landfill. This requires also requires resources like land and a system of collection and transportation (which is largely run on fossil fuels and also generates CO2 and leads to generation of methane from the decaying waste).

Additional costs are incurred as a result of an EU levy on landfill disposal.

Global warming affects us all.

The County Council wants to kill 2 birds with 1 stone - disposed of the waste without using landfill, and generate electricity.

Most people shop in supermarkets.

There are a handful of major retail chains dominating the UK market.

Surely the solution to the problem is to target it at source - get the supermarkets with their clout with manufacturers to cut down on the amount of packaging used - through legislation or a name-and-shame people power approach (let people know which supermarkets/manufacturers don't want to play ball - and let's boycott them). Then may be we won't need to have to spend money building incinerators or using landfills in the first place.

Gives a new meaning to Waste Not, Want Not.

[Mighty Hatfield]

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/EG7fesiUtDo&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18&amp;rel=0&amp;fs=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/EG7fesiUtDo&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18&amp;rel=0&amp;fs=1</a>

[mythoughts]

http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/4739456.Environmental_expert_joins_anti_incinerator_campaign/
 
This will be interesting...see my concerns above re HPA failing to conduct any tests on modern waste incinerators.

[Broadside]

Headline in the WHTimes today:
HAVE I GOT NEWTS FOR YOU
 
It seems that the planned incinerator at the New Barnfield, Hatfield site could be scuppered due to
great crested newts being found in the adjacent
Bunchleys Pond.
That's great news but why did it take so long in coming?
I've been banging on about the flora 'n fauna up there
to all politicians - and on this Forum -for donkeys!
 
Better late than never I suppose.