South West Devon MP urges government intervention in Ivybridge incinerator issue

By PRSD, on Friday, January 29, 2010

It took him a while, but now he's fighting the incinerator

South West Devon MP Gary Streeter has urged ministers to intervene in the incinerator plans for Lee Mill, near Ivybridge, but Local Government Minister Ian Austin said it was for waste planning authorities to identify locations for refuse facilities.

Gary asked the local government minister: “Does the department’s guidance suggest that it is sensible to place a large energy-from-waste plant in an attractive rural area, clogging up local roads and causing all kinds of highway issues? If not, will the Minister encourage Devon county council to throw out the Viridor scheme for Lee Mill in my constituency?”

Ian Austin replied: “The guidance shows that waste planning authorities should identify suitable locations for waste facilities in their local plans, and in doing so take into account our planning policies for waste.”

And who chairs that waste planning authority? Why it’s Roger Croad, the Ivybridge District and County Councillor – the living example of why District and County Councillors shouldn’t be the same person. While he’s excusing himself over conflicts of interest, who the heck is standing up for Ivybridge… oh, that would be the residents, who voted for him to do it.

Still, the widespread public and cross party political support was enough to the MP (who had know about it for months) to raise the issue, while Roger Croad, very maturely sits it out doing nothing for his constituents.

• Should Roger Croad resign from at least one of his roles? Comments below, please

(image: Gary Streeter MP, it took him a while, but now he’s fighting the incinerator)