General Search Click
here for a more Advanced Search
There has been increasing coverage of this vital issue in the press, both local and national. We, therefore, felt it appropriate to repeat here some of the comments and letters that have appeared together with relevant newspaper reports
The local papers, especially The Chronicle; The Evening Leader; and The Daily Post, are to be complimented on the neutral position they have carefully taken on all aspects of this highly emotive and very important debate.
Where relevant, we have also listed here reports by CANK on events as
they unfold and important letters that have been sent in.
2001
Jan 10th
12th 14th
Feb 5th
20th
Mar 22nd
25th 26th
April 29th
May 7th
21st
June 1st
3rd 7th
17th
July 8th
October 3rd
November 18th
The Chester Chronicle, Mold & Buckley Edition
(22nd December 2000)
Boost
for kiln as fuel declared green
Deals with the Environment Agency's confirmation
that it proposes to licence the burning of Cemfuel at Clitheroe.
However, all is often not as straightforward as
it would seem and we also feature a letter
from the Friends of the Earth
group responsible
for Clitheroe to the Environment Agency expressing their frustration
and deep concerns over this decision
and the way in which it was reached.
'This Group has no faith in the Agency to
adequately monitor Castle Cement'
Letters
We reproduce here a remarkable letter, sent to the Inquiry Inspector.
From
Mr Andrew Mack
A local (Broughton) resident who has attended
most of the Public Inquiry with his impressions of this most important
event.
Report
Chester Chronicle, Mold & Buckley Edition, (12th January 2001)
Yes to kiln 'will put
30,000 in jeopardy'
News
Reports
The Flintshire Mail 1st February
Firm
presents new evidence over kiln
In it's hurry to prove that:
'the use of alternative fuels is environmentally
beneficial and does not adversely affect air quality or public
health'
Castle Cement and their local general
manager, Tony Allan, draw on two reports:- one as yet unpublished and the
other
discredited.
For an alternative view of the same story, see:
Clitheroe Advertiser & Times 18th January
Once again
we are in tip-top condition
This prompted an interesting
letter the following week, in the same paper:
Disease
problem of the 'very small sub-set'
'a number of residents
have expressed the view that the cement kilns frequently malfunction'
'none of us knows
when or why he might himself have the misfortune to become a member of
"a very small
sub-set."'
Quinn the Eskimo
A slightly tongue-in-cheek
but, nevertheless, serious look at the the
state of the UK incinerator industry and its
regulators
by one of this countries most widely respected campaigners - ENJOY!
News
Reports
The Guardian, 13th February
Dioxins
in city may be worst in UK
Update on the Byker, Newcastle scandal (see also, below)
The Chester Chronicle, 16th February
Phoenix
rises to challenge of kiln claim
Further response to the Castle story last
week
Two interesting questions arise from this piece:
a)Since the health authority meeting was closed to all but the EA and the
local authority, how did Castle know
what went on?
b)Tony Allan's request to 'urge' protest groups not to 'attempt
hold their own inquiry via the media'.
But this report is in response to one of several the company
have had published in the press in recent weeks!
Such double standards are of concern, given that our health is in his hands.
CEMFUEL JUDICIAL REVIEW RESULT
"Cemfuel is a hazardous waste, and has rightly
been treated as such by the Environment Agency."
Reports
The Flintshire Mail, 1st March 2001
Community
says a resounding 'NO'
Local referendum on a proposed
waste incinerator in Wrexham
The Guardian, 22nd March 2001
MP's
rubbish waste strategy
'A damning indictment
of the goverment's 'unimaginative and uninspiring' waste strategy'
News Reports
New York
Times (21st April 2001) Note: You will
need to register with the paper to read their articles, but this is free
Tiny
Bits of Soot Tied to Illness
New PM2.5 fine particle research data by the
US EPA and other scientists associating it more strongly with premature
mortality.
Also in
The New York Times (29th April
2001)
Behind
the Court's Civil Rights Ruling
"This seems to be still another line of attack in a multifaceted
campaign by the court's conservatives to deny Americans a judicial remedy
for violations of their rights," said Herman Schwartz, a constitutional
scholar at American University Law School.
7th May
Smoke Alarms!
Press Release from Val Barton at Byker
reporting an explosion and fire at the incineration plant during renovation.
Co-incineration: Quercus Highlights
Errors .....
This Press Release from a Portugal's National Association for Nature
Conservation.
Seems that serious reservations about the veracity of institutions
supposedly there to protect the population (Government; EA; Local Health
Authority) is not confined to this country. The similarities with our experience
are striking.
21st May
General Election
Jones
Pledges to Continue Fight Against Kiln
(Word
Document)
Chester Conservative candidate declares his opposition
to the proposed kiln.
Newspaper Reports
The Clitheroe Advertiser & Times (10th May)
Dioxin danger
allegation is a 'misinterpretation' claims Castle Cement
A revealing insight into life under Cemfuel. Contrast
the concerns of local people:
' we want something done
about the harmful emissions from those chimneys.
This has been going
on for seven years.'
with the response from the Environment
Agency:
“These figures at
first sight look quite high. It is only when you stand back and look at
them in perspective it
isn’t an issue at
all,”
This Report prompted several letters
the following week (17th May 2001):
Our
People treated like guinea pigs
'the average figure for the 24-hour
period, according to our information is one of the highest ever recorded
in
England.'
The
Agency 'defends' Castle Cement
The monitor issued 19 WARNINGS and eight ALARMS.
Who
is getting it right on air pollution?
'According to Mr Isherwood (EA), the complaint
from Friends of the Earth is a “red herring”.
Maybe he should transfer to sea pollution,
because he is not being very helpful about air pollution.'
The Daily Mail (29th May)
Waste
fumes 'can damage children's fertility'
'I would certainly prefer
not to live near a waste incinerator.' Dr Jans Staessen leader
of The Lancet report
Newspaper Reports
Flintshire Evening Leader
A review of the Leader's excellent website revealed
two interesting reports over the last few months:
New Kiln 'is
crucial to waste strategy' (23rd February 2001)
“The new kiln is intrinsic to this agreement.Without
it, we would have to re-negotiate.”
CANK Comment
Given Castle's past performance and coming as
this does shortly after the close of the Public Inquiry, one has to
wonder whether this is another crude attempt
by the company to strongarm the Government as they clearly tried
to do to with the local councillors over the
job issue.
CO2 reduction CANNOT be at the expense of
the health of local people.
Castle urged
to come clean on incinerator (3rd April 2001)
Following Castles failed
Judicial Review of Cemfuel in March 2001
(Castle) 'urged to admit that the proposed
development is a “co-incinerator”
“Can Castle Cement prove that they are not importing hazardous waste to burn in Britain because our laws
Newspaper Reports
The Rutland & Stamford Mercury
The paper covering Ketton, home of Castle Cement's
flagship plant where both tyres and Cemfuel are burned.
Several stories featured prominently in May 2001
which are highly relevant to Padeswood.
Cement Firm Draws
Up New Extension Option (3rd May 2001)
“The decision facing the council is a critical one for the future
of the works and all those who depend upon it.”
Seems that Castle just love to play the
jobs card whenever they get the chance!
Frightened by the Fallout
(17th May 2001)
“The dust is sticky, like hairspray, and we find it impossible
to remove from our car and windows — so what’s it doing to the herbs and
salad vegetables I grow?
'Extensive List' of
Work Ordered to Stop Dust (24th May 2001)
'The company has controvened rules on the points from which dust
can be released into the air, techniques used to minimise dust emissions
and measures to prevent the release of cement kiln dust.'
'We Want Castle to
be a Neighbour we can Live With' (24th May 2001)
“The man who came to clean my car said he had done more
than 30 cars. One person I know was so concerned they moved out of the
village.
Cement Firm Told to
Clean Up Their Act (24th May 2001)
Greenpeace volunteers acquitted over shutting Britain's biggest waste incinerator
Environmental New Service - Lycos
Bush
proposes more research on climate change (11th June 2001)
'In six short months, President Bush has set
us back ten years - doubting the science, weakening public policy,
and undermining global cooperation." '
Tiny
Air Pollutants Linked to Heart Attacks (12th June)
'As few as two hours after being inhaled,
tiny, invisible air pollutants can penetrate the lungs' natural defenses
and may trigger a heart attack'
The Independant
(23rd May 2001)
UN
treaty to ban 'dirty dozen' pollutants in developing world
The treaty also calls for reducing releases
of dioxins and furans toxic byproducts of waste burning and
industrial production "with the goal
of their continuing minimisation and, where feasible, ultimate
elimination".
(17th June 2001)
Public
to lose voice in major planning rows
'The plans, which could allow ministers to
give the green light to hotly contested projects virtually by decree,
pose the greatest threat to democracy
in planning since the system was set up by a Labour government half
a
century ago.'
Reports
The Times (Weekend Suppliment
7th July)
Up
in Smoke
'Who needs a rubbish incinerator larger than
Guildford Cathedral? Eighty-five towns in Britain if you believe
the experts.'
An excellent report on the huge public concern that
is growing over the building of incinerators, especially in relation to
Guildford: 'The site is on the banks of a
river and canal system, next to the only substantial wildlife reserve in
the
city. Two secondary schools, four primary
and infant schools and a housing estate are within one kilometre.'
“You watch over these little bodies all the
time, spend all your effort ensuring they are safe, and you are
suddenly faced with something that could threaten
their development.”
BBC Newsnight (3rd July)
An excellent report into the use of toxic ash in
the house and road building industries followed by a Paxman interview with
Michael Meacher. Total running time- 29 minutes
The Basingstoke
Burner Action Campaign (BBAC) has RealPlayer streaming video of the whole
piece but some of the files
are very large (8Mb).
Alternatively, a
full transcript of the programme is available from the BBC website
BYKER
Pollution
Tests prompt fresh Safety Fears (Newcastle's Sunday Sun 8th July 2001)
This story drawn to our attention by Val
Barton, the local lady and allotment user, who was responsible for
revealing the Byker scandal in the first instance. She told us today (8th
July):
'Would you believe it, they're trying to throw me off my
allotment (Council owned) for not gardening it since the first results
were revealed? I mean, would you?'
Rather than trying to remedy the appalling
situation in Byker, the authorities seem intent on marginalising the person
who, by first hightlighting the problem, has probably saved many lives.