Waste plan passed will allow Beddington Lane incinerator (From Your Local Guardian)
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Croydon Council approve plan which would allow for the planned incinerator
1:50pm Wednesday 1st February 2012 in Croydon By Peter Truman
Waste company Viridor's Lakeside incinerator near Heathrow
A waste plan that would allow an incinerator to be built next to Croydon, has been approved by the council.
The South London Waste Plan sets out plans for rubbish disposal for Croydon, Sutton, Merton and Kingston councils.
At a full council meeting on Monday night, Conservative Councillor Jason Perry said the plan gave guidance for any future waste facility in the borough.
But Labour Councillor Paul Smith said the plan provided a green light for an incinerator in Beddington, on the border of Waddon.
He said: “You may call it an energy recovery facility but it will do so by incinerating.
“There is no point in using semantics.
“Of course how the borough reduces waste going to land fill and reduces the cost to the environment and council is something all members have an interest in.
“The issue is thousands of people do not want to see an incinerator built on the border of Sutton and Croydon.”
Council Leader Mike Fisher said he wanted an end to “scaremongering” over the issue.
He said Labour MP Malcolm Wicks had approved a similar scheme in Kent when he was Energy Minister.
The Shirley ward member added: “What this plan does is safe guard sites in this borough so we can control where different treatments for waste take place.”
He accused the Labour opposition of putting votes before the environment.
Earlier in the meeting, Councillor Phil Thomas - cabinet member for environment and highways - faced a series of questions during public question time.
He was repeatedly asked about the health implications of an incinerator near a residential area.
The Welshman said an environmental impactment assessment would be carried out by contractors Viridor as well as consultation from the Environment Agency.
He added the type of facility proposed was used widely across Europe and if it was “good enough for Europe, it is good enough for Croydon”.
Comments(6)
Timothy Godfrey
says...
3:40pm Wed 1 Feb 12
The Conservatives Cabinet live an average of 6.5KM from the site. I guess they feel they are far enough away not to be affected.
The Conservatives also promised in the 2010 election (and the 2009 Waddon By-Election) that they would not support any Incinerator being built - they accused Labour of scaremongering.
All our waste has to be dealt with, but GreenPeace show how 68% of waste can be recycled quite easily. That leaves the remainder to be dealt with. It is the Labour view that there are greener alternatives like anaerobic digestion to be considered.
The problem with Croydon Council is that they are secretive and refuse to discuss with Croydon Residents the way forward.
Councillor Timothy Godfrey
Selhurst Ward, Croydon Council
David7
says...
4:02pm Wed 1 Feb 12
Sutton53
says...
7:22pm Wed 1 Feb 12
te
The permission was granted WITHOUT an 'impactment assessment'? Shouldn't that have been done first, before laying out the facts?
ArfurTowcrate
says...
7:26pm Wed 1 Feb 12
According to the Croydon Conservatives website at http://www.croydonco
nservatives.com/team
s_detail.asp?WardID=
32 "The people of Croydon returned a Conservative council in May 2010. In Waddon we promised to oppose any incinerator being built in Croydon or on the border of Sutton".
It would be nice if the people behind that pledge - Cllr Tony Harris, Cllr Clare Hilley and Cllr Simon Hoar could explain to Croydon Guardian readers what happened to this opposition, and how come the Tories have voted this incinerator through.
lordofzombies
says...
7:57am Thu 2 Feb 12
Martin S says...
3:23pm Wed 1 Feb 12
Tell you what Croydon council why not go the whole hog and build it in the town centre, You have pretty much killed that off already. Maybe you could hire some of the rioters to keep it burning too.
Pathetic