Anti-incinerator protestors present a petition to county council (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

Anti-incinerator protestors present a petition to county council

9:40am Wednesday 9th September 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

CAMPAIGNERS opposing the development of a huge waste plant in Hatfield will hand a petition to County Council Hall today where a panel is set to discuss the long-term management of Hertfordshire's waste.

Action Hatfield, a group created by Welwyn Hatfield Labour parliamentary candidate Mike Hobday, will present its petition against plans for a £220 million combined heat and power plant on the New Barnfield site in Travellers Lane at a meeting of the county council's waste panel at 2pm today.

Protesters insist the waste disposal plant will cause dangerous pollution, despite the county council’s reassurance that the project will, if built, be subject to stringent regulation, as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions through generating electricity for local use.

Mr Hobday said: “There is enormous alarm in Hatfield at the threat which the county council has made to our local community.

"Local residents are strongly opposed to the threat of a 270,000 tonne waste incinerator. It’s unthinkable that the county council want to put such a massive source of pollution so close to residential areas and to Southfield School.

“I am presenting the petition to show the strength of local concern and to urge the county council to recycle our waste instead of burning it. Incineration is the wrong technology, causing pollution and carbon dioxide emissions as well as bringing extra lorries onto our roads.”

Hertfordshire County Council spokeswoman Jo Brown said: "The aim of the county council is to find a solution that is proven, environmentally sound and affordable.

"While we appreciate local concern in Hatfield, we would like to reiterate that New Barnfield and energy from waste are reference cases that we identified in order to secure government funding - we have not endorsed a particular site or technology. "We have invited potential suppliers to bid for the contract and the successful bidder may propose a completely different site or technology."

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)