Leading waste expert Professor Paul
Connett voiced vehement concerns about plans for the proposed Brent Cross
Cricklewood waste incinerator, at the
Willesden Area Consultative Forum last Wednesday, October 7
th. This comes in advance of
Barnet’s likely acceptance of the plans at the forthcoming planning committee on Tuesday 20
th October.
Paul
Connett, Emeritus Professor of Environmental Chemistry at St Lawrence University New York State, gave an enlightening and condemning talk, after being briefed on the proposed waste plans, including a site visit of the area by members of the Coalition for a Sustainable Brent Cross
Cricklewood (
BXC) Plan. He ripped apart the “green wash” claims made by the developers that the plans are harmless and “not incineration” and called the plant a “
gasifying incinerator”. He stated that no
gasification plant anywhere in the world has been used to successfully dispose of commercial waste by burning, that the technology is unproven other than for burning wood, that burning waste is not the answer to achieve “zero waste” and that the emission of ultra fine
nano particulates by these plants isn't regulated.
Professor Paul
Connett said, “These modern new-style incinerators put out more
nano-particles than the old ones. The particles are so small that rather than lodging in the lungs they enter the bloodstream. You would have to be STUPID to put one of these things near a community – schools and homes are being put at risk from non-regulated and potentially lethal emissions. We need to protect our citizens from this stupidity.
The United States
hasn’t allowed any new incinerators since 1995, so why have
Barnet? Developers should come clean and give us the information.
Barnet need to move from PR to solid answers.”
He added, “After 25 years you would be no closer to sustainability compared to zero waste. An incinerator is one big black box. Aiming for zero waste is hundreds of little green boxes.”
Lia
Colacicco, Co-
ordinator of the
BXC Coalition said, “The Professor’s views have confirmed our worst fears that plans are totally wrong for this area. Not only is it not safe, it’s incredibly stupid. It’s madness to burn waste, crazy to put this so close to a local school, and dishonest to claim it is harmless and not incineration. This is not the right way to deal with our waste, and only confirms that plans for Brent Cross are not in the public interest. If the developers don't believe it is an incinerator, then give us the plans and show us the facts.”
“We are also concerned that
Barnet Councillors have been hoodwinked by developers’ PR to believe the plant is safe, when
neurotoxins will be emitted. We do not believe that
Barnet Councillors and those making the decisions have fully researched the facts [5] or have even visited the site. If they had done so they would be fully aware of the implications of this toxic monster of a scheme.”
Local Councillor Alec Castle said, “Professor
Connett’s enlightening talk makes it even more clear that the Brent Cross development would have a catastrophic impact on the environment and the health of local residents if approved in its current form.”
The proposed site for the incinerator is just 200 yards from Our Lady of Grace Infants School in
Dollis Hill, Brent. Brent Friends of the Earth had previously condemned the plans over toxic dioxin emissions that developers admitted would be released from the plant, about monitoring of emissions and lack of detail in the plans.
The coalition now consists of twelve residents groups in
Barnet, Camden and Brent, three political parties, two
MPs, two London Assembly Members, three Friends of the Earth groups, London-wide and local transport campaigners, a cycling campaign, a large local employer and individual local residents. It aims to demand and achieve a public inquiry to prevent
BXC being built according to current plans.
Barnet Times coverage of this story including developer's denial can be found HERE. Comment on their website and make your views known.