Make no mistake, the purpose of communication with residents and the public is designed to reduce objections from local residents to a point that the site can get planning permission. You can find a list of “selling points and tactics” below.
- Up to 50 local jobs created – While everyone can agree that jobs are a good thing for the community. 50 jobs in a city with a population of millions will hardly end the recession. In addition, an industrial location like Trafford Park is well within commuting distance. The plant could be created there and provide the same jobs, to the same people, without having the same impact on a residential community. These job are likely to be highly specialised requiring employee from outside of the area.
- We’re helping save the environment – Most would agree that tackling issues like climate change are important. At what cost to our community though? The same reduction in landfill requirements can be achevied by siting the plant further away from residential property. In fact the purpose of the plant is to reduce the requirement for landfill, at the same time pumping more pollutants into the environment. This actually means more green house gases.
- Clean renewable energy – The image presented is of green grass and a brighter future. The waste is renewed into reusable energy. It is not possible to recycle 100% of all waste material, the residual waste will be “gasified” and pumped into the air. It’s not clean and 80,000 tonnes will be “gasified”
- Helping a local company – The gasification technology used at the eco-dump is pioneered by a company in Salford called Energos. I’m sure all residents want local companies to thrive, but at what cost? Our chidren’s health? Our property values? Local, national or foreign, no company should have such an impact on a residential community.
- “Consultation” – Sky Properties are going through a process of “consultation”. The advertised objective of these consultations is to “get the opinion” of the local community and help negate any concerns. Residents who have attended these consultations, have found that it is clear that the objective is to quash any objections and regardless of any concerns, do all possible to influence residents to accept the presence of the plant in their community. Residents will also be given the opportunity to “liaise” with the development company. Liasing may include trips to see other eco-dumps in other countries.
- Misleading statistics – One example of this was on traffic. The 160 truck journeys per day was said to be “just over 1%” of all traffic travelling down Canal Bank in a typical day (stated at 11,000 vechiles). Although this may be statistically correct, how do those 11,000 vechiles compare to a 40 ton waste-truck and what are they carrying. Do they omit an odour and drop potentially hazardous waste. Does the road currently require scheduled cleaning to combat odour and unintentionally dropped waste?
- Case studies and example plants – Planning permission has recently been granted in Knowsley Business Park. We are told that the residents have been consulted and are happy with the plant. In reality, the residents of Knowsley fought the plan and continue to do so. Even with a 300-400m distance between the local residential properties and the plant. This is a new technology, There are only 10 such plants across Europe. Most processing below 80,000 tonnes per year. Of those 10 plants two have had serious accidents which have caused the workers and some local residents to be hospitalised. (source: BAN Waste)
- EC Directives local waste recycled to produce local energy – A number of European Community directives are stated as drivers for the plant. The objective of the EC directives is to promote local recycling with the purpose of providing the recycled energy back to the local community. The catchment area for the Green Lane plant was stated as being from 20-25 miles. This covers most of Manchester and parts of other cities such as Warrington. Warrington is not the local community. Furthermore, the first option for the supply of energy was the National Grid, not the local community.
- Changing the language – Gasification is as harmful as Incineration. Incinerators have a bad press across the UK. They are known for pumping out polluting chemicals such as dioxins which have been linked to cancer and other illnesses. Gasification involves slight changes in the process but pumps out the majority of the same pollutants. By changing the description of what happens to residuel waste by calling it Gasification, questions can be avoided regarding the potential environmental and health risks. Search google and youtube for incinerator protests and you will find much more information.
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