STEERING GROUP LAUNCHED TO VOICE CONCERNS ON WASTE PLANT

Sinfin’s Labour Councillors and local residents have established a steering group to voice the concerns of local people about the location of the proposed waste treatment plant on Sinfin Lane.

One of their first actions has been to compile a list of unanswered questions, which they have submitted to the Council. Please see attached at the foot of this press release.

They are also using the social networking website Facebook to boost their campaign, which has already attracted over 400 members.

Facebook Link> http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=49232330898

The group will be providing information to residents in Sinfin and Osmaston about its progress and is planning further public meetings later in the year.

The group says that it doesn’t oppose the principle of converting waste into energy, but it believes more efforts should first be made to deliver increased recycling.

It will compile evidence about suitable alternative sites and the impact of a plant on Sinfin Lane such as increased traffic, size of the facility and the amount of waste from outside Derby.

The group’s spokesman, Cllr Baggy Shanker, said: “I am concerned that the consultation process still hasn’t begun even though we were told it would commence by the end of January.

“This is a poor start, considering a full planning application is due in April. If public opinion is to be properly considered, people should be given enough time to air their views”.

“I also think there are better sites available, so I’ve written to the council leader asking her to order an immediate review to see if a more suitable location can be found”.

For further details please contact Baggy Shanker at baggy.shanker@derby.gov.uk or on 07966 568992.

The Steering Group is comprised of the following members:

* Joan Spencer Kiran Dhanda Louise Noble Narinder Dhiensa
* Gary Woolley Baggy Shanker Robin Turner Martin Sear
* Scott Thompson Simon Bacon Kevin Baldwin Trevor Barnes
* Bob Hewins

Cont/…

List of Questions submitted to the Council

1. Where is the waste (180,000) coming from, which Councils are involved, how far is the furthest waste travelling?

2. What is the maximum annual and instantaneous load that this plant will handle?

3. What is the minimum annual and instantaneous load that this plant will handle?

4. How many vehicles in total will go into and out of the site on a daily basis?

5. What size will these vehicles be? What size load would they carry?

6. Could you confirm the exact locations of all the surrounding AQMA’s within a 1 mile radius of the proposed site?

7. What impact will this plant and the associated transport have on each of the AQMA’s?

8. What relevance does the new proposed road from Chellaston have to this proposal?

9. What will the emissions be from this plant?

10. What emissions will be permitted from this plant under emergency operation?

11. Who will regulate this plant and monitor its emissions?

12. What evidence is there that the safe emissions levels are actually safe?

13. Why cannot the existing waste site at Raynesway be used?

14. What other sites in Derby & Derbyshire were considered?

15. Why was Sinfin selected over other options available in Derby & Derbyshire?

16. What is the foot print of this site?

17. What will actually be burnt at this plant?

18. Are there any materials that you can say will definitely not be burnt at this plant?

From all across Sinfin Ward they came to protest…

Today’s protest was a huge success.

We believe that there were a hundred people there and the fact that they were from the Osmaston area and the whole of the Sinfin area of Sinfin Ward indicates that the will in the community to have an influence on the final decision is very strong.

In addition to our presence at the front of the Council House we made an emphatic impression in the Council chamber. Although you were excluded from witnessing the decision of the Council Cabinet we believe that the sincere, honest, brave and civilised conduct of everyone there made a deep impression on the Council members present.

Councillors Baggy Shanker and Robin Turner want to thank you all for your contribution today.

The steering group will be keeping you informed of progress over the coming weeks.

Best regards from Robin and Baggy

Petition against the Sinfin Lane Waste Plant..

We oppose the Sinfin Lane Waste Plant

We are against Derby City Council’s proposal to build a new waste disposal plant at the Old Tannery site on Sinfin Lane.

Sinfin residents should not suffer again just to solve the long existing problem of how to dispose of the City Council owned site.

Other reasons for opposing the project are:

* Delivery vehicles taking waste to the site will make what is now a bad traffic situation much worse and generate more air pollution.
* The Size of the Plant is excessive for Derby’s needs over 65% of the waste will be transported in from outside the city.
* No specific benefit for Sinfin residents from the plant. The Council are even refusing to allow them a credit for the electricity to be generated.

This industrial site should be placed in an area which has an adequate transport network and away from any residential properties.

We request that the Council Cabinet reject the officers’ proposal to place a plant there. We call on the relevant parties to find a suitable alternative site without delay.