Meeting to say 'no' to an incinerator near Ivybridge and Lee Mill

By PRSD, on Saturday, October 31, 2009

Ivybridge Labour Party has launched a campaign to spread the word about plans by waste company Viridor to build an incinerator just south of Lee Mill, with a meeting on Sunday, November 1 in Ivybridge and a Facebook group to galvanise opposition to the little-know incinerator plans.

Luke Pollard, Labour’s Prospective Parliamentary Candidate in SW Devon told the PRSD: “I’m really concerned that Viridor is about to submit a planning application to build an incinerator in our area and hardly anyone knows about it. That is why Labour has launched a campaign to make sure that every person in Ivybridge and Lee Mill not only knows what Viridor is planning but has their voice listened to. The company claims to have undertaken proper consultation with the community, but clearly it hasn’t worked. It is not right that the first some people have heard about this is when they received a leaflet from me about it.”

At a recent meeting of Ivybridge Labour Party it was agreed by members from Ivybridge that the party would actively campaign against the proposals by Viridor citing very real concerns about the location of the incinerator.

Luke said: “There is a good case for an incinerator in south Devon but we have not yet had a good case put as to why it should be where Viridor suggests. An extra 120 lorry movements a day, operating 24 hours a day, every day is a serious concern for many people locally and these very real concerns need to be addressed by the Council and the company.”

“It is simply not good enough that local people haven’t had their say yet. I’m really concerned that the new Tory Council in Exeter will grant permission for this incinerator without local people having had their say. That’s why we’re trying to make sure that every local person knows about Viridor’s plans and has their voices heard.”

Luke has organised a meeting for the local community at 3pm on Sunday, November 1 at the Community Rooms at Chapel Place in Ivybridge Town Centre for local people to discuss how the community can oppose Viridor’s plans. Can you come along?

If you are not able to attend but would like to be kept informed about the campaign against the incinerator near Lee Mill and Ivybridge email Luke Pollard on luke@lukepollard.net

And there’s a No to an incinerator for Ivybridge and Lee Mill Facebook Group you can join

Come and enjoy Devon – book a hotel and get away!

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Frankie Dolan

Thanks for blogging about this issue. I attended the meeting today. Sorry Jean that you didn't know about it in time - we only arranged to have it less than a week ago, so it was hard to get word out in time, but it was really just a meeting to arrange a meeting, if that makes sense! So the next meeting we plan to get word out to 'everyone', will be towards the end of November - will let you know this week as to the exact time and place. We will also be lauching an official website this week where we will post all the news on our campaign and be giving people the option to subscribe to the latest updates. Eveything has had to be very hurried since residents have only just become aware of the issue and because plans are due to be submitted in one month's time - which gives us very little time to get word out about what is happening and also to get fully informed about the proposal.

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Pugwash

As I understand it, Viridor are trying to jump the gun on the South West Devon Waste Partnership's process. This isn't great for democracy, given the slightly better awareness that exists for the formal council led process and it's programme of meetings. However, applications fairly often are revised or rejected, and the initial submission of an application is far from the death-knell of its opposition. The application might address some of the concerns people have, it might not. I don't know if I will have anything to object to!

Jean

Shame we werent given any more time to attend today. Nothing has been publicised about this meeting. I am on the Facebook group and I didnt know a thing. he wont get many people turning up if we dont know about it. Whose course is that helping??

Luke Pollard

You are right that Viridor haven't submitted their application. We're expecting it to be submitted in December. This means the local community has about a month to influence any planning application that is submitted. With large parts of the community still unaware of the proposals it will be too late to demonstrate strength of feeling about lorry movements, access and impacts if you wait until an application is submitted. People need more information and a chance to submit their views in a constructive way to influence the plans before a proposal is submitted. Why not come along to the meeting and have your say?

"An extra 120 lorry movements a day, operating 24 hours a day, every day is a serious concern for many people locally and these very real concerns need to be addressed by the Council and the company.

It is simply not good enough that local people haven’t had their say yet."

Viridor have yet to submit their application.