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[Flyingshop]

I would go along to the planned event about this on Friday but i'm working that day, as are many other objectors I suspect.

I was looking at the HCC online consultation website today, which is here: http://consult.hertscc.gov.uk/portal/minerals_and_waste/
A few comments on it:

How hard it was to find from the HCC main website.

I had registered in the past to add comments, but forgot my password. When I gave my username in order to be emailed my password it said I wasn't registered. When I tried to register again using my same username it said that my username was already in use? My point is how can we trust this technology when clearly there is something amiss even in the registration process.

Most alarming was that only about 25 people have so far made comments on the consultation docs as far as I can see. Hardly a basis for any representative view of public opinion. It's good they give the option to review such documents online, but they need to execute the idea far better. I should be easy to find the consultation, and once found easy to register and most importantly easy to add an overall high level comment. Most people do not have the tenacity to trawl through every sentence and comment on them separately, which is all you can really do as it stands.

This is about the 4th online consultation of this kind i've seen, apart from the recurring spelling and grammer mistakes, it really isn't a good way to include people in local democracy (of sorts). It might tick the required boxes for the audit commission but it doesn't really serve to widen local participation because of the barriers to entry it puts in front of people who would like to have their say via the online route. In short, HCC must try harder.

[MikeHobday]

Most alarming was that only about 25 people have so far made comments on the consultation docs as far as I can see. Hardly a basis for any representative view of public opinion.

Quite right, the system is appallingly difficult. Which is why I'm encouraging residents simply to email cdu@hertscc.gov.uk with their views. We've confirmation that comments sent this way will be counted as valid.
Mike

[Flyingshop]

Good point Mike, I will do same. I noticed that Limehouse who host the online consultation (recently aquired by an Australian multinational) made over £3 million last year. I hope HCC are not giving them too much of our council tax.

[Khaos]

Maybe you could print and shove leaflets into the neighbourhood's doors?
I'm unconvinced many look at the CC website, nor would they look in here.
It's not a good system. Only those who are interested in local politics tend to know what's happening.  But everyone's affected.

[MikeHobday]

And now Herts Tories want to make the incinerator even bigger!
News story: http://www.whtimes.co.uk/news/hatfield_incinerator_it_could_be_bigger_than_first_feared_1_34445 (more in the print edition)
County Council papers at http://www.hertsdirect.org/yrccouncil/civic_calendar/archive/Waste%20Management%20Cabinet%20Panel_19
 
Hence everyone should email cdu@hertscc.gov.uk to object! Object against incineration, against the use of New Barnfield (and other sites) or both.
 
Mike

[Anne]

And now Herts Tories want to make the incinerator even bigger!

I'm a 'floating' voter, if I vote at all... but I cannot believe that I might actually be on the side of Labour....

It seems to me that the idea might be to take waste from other counties and charge them for its disposal... oh, whilst we in Welwyn Hatfield breath in the "x?#~*$$".

[Kay]

LOOK - who is REALLY responsible for the incinerator (possibly) being built in Hatfield. I do not understand how BOTH parties can BOTH fight against it when obivously someone is agreeing to it!!

tt4n
Kay

[MikeHobday]

LOOK - who is REALLY responsible for the incinerator (possibly) being built in Hatfield. I do not understand how BOTH parties can BOTH fight against it when obivously someone is agreeing to it!!

tt4n
Kay

Kay
The County Council cabinet, which is pushing this through, is 100% Conservative.
Mike 

[trekbat]

It seems to me that the idea might be to take waste from other counties and charge them for its disposal... oh, whilst we in Welwyn Hatfield breath in the "x?#~*$$".

I think you've hit the nail right on the head - I suspect they're aiming to generate income from burning London's rubbish on OUR doorstep.

Or can anyone guarantee ONLY Hertfordshire waste will be going up the chimney? (I doubt it)

I had a look around the Barnsfield hilltop - at ground level you have a direct line of site with St Albans, WGC and Welham Green (and, of course, Hatfield town centre) - so depending which way the wind is blowing they'll cop it, too.

Incidentally, I'm a floating voter too but I definitely will be voting - if only to stop them from coming up with new ways of trashing Hatfield and poisoning us in the process.

[trekbat]

Or can anyone guarantee ONLY Hertfordshire waste will be going up the chimney? (I doubt it)

Actually, thinking about it, even if an assurance was given to facilitate planning approval - it is unlikely it could be counted on for long.

Once the site is up and running (and a 25-year contract signed), if all manufacturers adopt the Kenco Coffee approach (and reduce packaging by 97% - as touted by their current ad campaign) and there wasn't enough waste in Hertfordshire we would either be stuck with paying for an under-utilised facility or allowing them to truck in other Counties' waste.

[If anyone reading this feels like taking a deep breath - now's the time to do it. Once that thing starts burning heavy breathing is likely to be harmful to your health]

[Anne]

Once the site is up and running (and a 25-year contract signed), if all manufacturers adopt the Kenco Coffee approach (and reduce packaging by 97% - as touted by their current ad campaign)

With regard to the Kenco Coffee approach, they have replaced a glass jar, that can be recycled, with a plastic bag which... I have no idea!??!??

OK... perhaps the lid of the jar could not be recycled. Clearly here is the opportunity to change its manufacture to something that can be recycled... not to a plastic bag that cannot!

Very good eco-friendly marketing ploy though!   

[John Wood]

We will not only get waste from Hertfordshire but from London also,like it or not.

[trekbat]

With regard to the Kenco Coffee approach, they have replaced a glass jar, that can be recycled, with a plastic bag which... I have no idea!??!??

Kenco was simply an example of how the amount of waste produced could be reduced at source (which lessens the need for harmful incineration to avoid expensive landfill).

As for you having 'no idea!??!??', their web site explains their rationale:

http://www.kenco.co.uk/kenco2/page?siteid=kenco2-prd&locale=uken1&PagecRef=623

[shapps]

A quick update. I've written to the remaining bidders in the incinerator process "warning" them of our concerns, urging them to think again and asking to meet with their senior directors.

Full details of this latest move here. You can read one of the actual letters below:

[MikeHobday]

Dear Grant,
I do hope you get to meet the companies. But, when you do, please ask them not to tender for an incinerator anywhere in Hatfield. Your previous comment

A) exactly where within your own constituency do you think these suitable alternatives for a waste incinerator are?

The best location would be somewhere where there are no residents nearby and where there are excellent road or rail transport links.  I would have thought that Junction 3 of the A1M which is directly on the motorway and without nearby residents would be appropriate. There is unused land to the West of the Junction.

indicated that you thought the Roehyde site would be acceptable for an incinerator. I hope you've changed your mind.
 
While I don't think that incineration is the right technology anywhere, I hope we can both oppose it anywhere in the constituency.
 
Mike